Membrane and separation technologies are as diverse as the myriad applications they are called upon to operate in: biotech separation and biomedical applications through to large-scale industrial applications in the water and wastewater processing, and the food and drink industries. Costs have continued to drop while advanced materials, particularly nanocomposite polymers, have continued to report for duty.
 
This is a behind the scenes technology that makes a very obvious difference to the quality of life, both generally speaking, and more specifically in fresh water constrained geographies. This Membrane and separation technologies review provides a sampling of quantitative market information, analysis and guidance. It includes highlights of reports published in 2010 on the following membrane and separation markets:

•Controlled-Release Technologies: Established and Emerging Markets 
•The Global Market for Membrane Microfiltration
•Membrane Technology for Liquid And Gas Separations
•Ultrafiltration Membranes: Technologies and the U.S. Market
•Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination

Highlights of the report:

•The global market for barrier materials that impart controlled-release properties are valued at nearly $600 million in 2010. BCC projects this market will approach $1 billion by 2015, increasing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.5% for all products worldwide during the 2010 to 2015 forecast period.

•The global market for microfiltration membrane products used in liquid separations is estimated at $1.2 billion in 2010. It will rise at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8% during the next 5 years to reach $1.8 billion in 2015, much more rapidly than predicted world GDP growth in most regions, but not as rapidly as the world market for other membrane types, such as reverse osmosis (RO).

•The combined U.S. market for membranes used in liquid and gas separating applications is estimated at approximately $1.7 billion in 2010, and is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.9% during the 5-year forecast period from 2010 to 2015 to reach $2.3 billion.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREWORD 

CHAPTER ONE: CONTROLLED-RELEASE TECHNOLOGIES:
ESTABLISHED AND EMERGING MARKETS (MST027H) 
INTRODUCTION
STUDY GOAL AND OBJECTIVES 
REASONS FOR DOING THE STUDY 
INTENDED AUDIENCE
SCOPE OF REPORT
METHODOLOGY
INFORMATION SOURCES 
ANALYST’S CREDENTIALS
RELATED BCC PUBLICATIONS
BCC ONLINE SERVICES
DISCLAIMER
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
TABLE 1 GLOBAL MARKET FORECAST FOR CONTROLLEDRELEASE
BARRIER MATERIALS BY ECONOMIC REGION, THROUGH 2015 ($ MILLIONS)
FIGURE 1 GLOBAL MARKET FOR CONTROLLED-RELEASE
BARRIER MATERIALS BY ECONOMIC REGION, 2008-2015 ($ MILLIONS) 
OVERVIEW OF CONTROLLED-RELEASE TECHNOLOGIES
OVERVIEW OF CONTROLLED-… (CONTINUED)
ESTABLISHED AND EMERGING APPLICATIONS
TABLE 2 TYPICAL APPLICATIONS FOR ACTIVE AGENTS AND
BARRIER MATERIALS IN AREAS OTHER THAN AGRICULTURE
AND HEALTHCARE
TABLE 2 (CONTINUED)
ACTIVE AGENTS
Active Agents (Continued)
TABLE 3 COMMONLY USED ACTIVE AGENTS 
TABLE 4 ACTIVE AGENTS SUITABLE FOR MICROENCAPSULATION 
BARRIER MATERIALS
Barrier Materials (Continued)
Barrier Materials (Continued)
COATINGS
ENCAPSULATION
ENCAPSULATION (CONTINUED)
COATINGS AND ENCAPSULATION 
THE GLOBAL MARKET FOR CONTROLLED-RELEASE
TECHNOLOGY
THE GLOBAL MARKET FOR -…(CONTINUED)

CHAPTER TWO: THE GLOBAL MARKET FOR MEMBRANE
MICROFILTRATION (MST028D) .
INTRODUCTION
STUDY GOAL AND OBJECTIVES
REASONS FOR DOING THE STUDY
INTENDED AUDIENCE
SCOPE OF REPORT 
METHODOLOGY
INFORMATION SOURCES 
ANALYST CREDENTIALS
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
SUMMARY
SUMMARY (CONTINUED) 
SUMMARY (CONTINUED)
SUMMARY (CONTINUED)
TABLE 5 VALUE OF THE GLOBAL MARKET FOR MF MEMBRANES,
THROUGH 2015 ($ MILLIONS)
FIGURE 2 VALUE OF THE GLOBAL MARKET FOR MF MEMBRANES,
1990–2015 ($ MILLIONS)
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE MEMBRANE INDUSTRY
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE MEMBRANE … (CONTINUED) 
TABLE 6 A BRIEF HISTORY OF MEMBRANE DEVELOPMENT
MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY
MATERIALS
Cellulosics 
Polypropylene
Polysulfones
Fluorinated Polymers 
Polyamides
Ceramics 
Stainless Steel
Selecting Materials for MF Membranes
MANUFACTURING METHODS
Phase Separation
Track Etching 
Stretching
Sintering 
STRUCTURE
MODULES 
Configuration
Plate and Frame
Tubular 
Spiral Wound
Hollow Fiber
Pleated Sheet 
FOULING
PRICING
TABLE 7 MEMBRANE COST BY CONFIGURATION ($/M2)
FILTRATION MODES
Direct-Flow Filtration
Cross-flow Filtration
MF
APPLICATIONS
TABLE 8 APPLICATIONS FOR MF MEMBRANES
TABLE 9 GLOBAL MF MEMBRANE MARKET SHARE BY
APPLICATION, 2010 (%) 
FIGURE 3 GLOBAL MF MEMBRANE MARKET SHARE BY
APPLICATION, 2010 (%) 
TABLE 10 GLOBAL VALUE OF THE MF MARKET BY APPLICATION,
THROUGH 2015 ($ MILLIONS)
FIGURE 4 GLOBAL VALUE OF THE MARKET FOR MF MEMBRANES
BY APPLICATION, 1990–2015 ($ MILLIONS)
MUNICIPAL DRINKING WATER 
WATER AVAILABILITY AND USAGE IN THE U.S.
TABLE 11 WATER DISTRIBUTION IN THE U.S. BY SECTOR
(BILLION GPD/%) 
FIGURE 5 WATER DISTRIBUTION IN THE U.S. BY SECTOR (%) 
WATER USE IN THE REST OF THE WORLD
TABLE 12 GLOBAL WATER DISTRIBUTION BY SECTOR (%)

CHAPTER THREE: MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY FOR LIQUID AND GAS
SEPARATIONS (MST041E) 
INTRODUCTION
STUDY GOAL AND OBJECTIVES 
REASONS FOR DOING THE STUDY 
INTENDED AUDIENCE
SCOPE OF REPORT
INFORMATION SOURCES
ANALYST CREDENTIALS
RELATED BCC PUBLICATIONS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (CONTINUED)
TABLE 13 VALUE OF THE U.S. MARKET FOR MEMBRANE
MODULES USED IN GAS AND LIQUID SEPARATIONS, THROUGH
2015 ($ MILLIONS)
FIGURE 6 PROJECTED VALUE OF THE U.S. MARKET FOR
MEMBRANE MODULES USED IN GAS AND LIQUID
SEPARATIONS, 2002–2015 ($ MILLIONS) 
HISTORY OF THE INDUSTRY
HISTORY OF THE INDUSTRY (CONTINUED)
TABLE 14 A BRIEF HISTORY OF MEMBRANE DEVELOPMENT
TABLE 14 (CONTINUED) 
MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY
MEMBRANE MATERIALS
Cellulosics 
Polycarbonates
Polysulfones
Fluorinated Polymers
Polyamides
Inorganics
Ceramic
Metal
Stainless Steel
Palladium 
Carbon
Carbon Nanotubes
Zeolite and Other Novel Inorganic Membranes 
Mixed Matrix Materials
MODULES 
CONFIGURATION
Plate and Frame 
Tubular Membranes 
Spiral-wound Membranes
Hollow-fiber Membranes
MOLECULAR WEIGHT CUTOFF
FLUX 
FOULING
METHODS OF FILTRATION 
DIRECT-FLOW FILTRATION 
CROSSFLOW FILTRATION
MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY TYPES 
REVERSE OSMOSIS
Applications
TABLE 15 APPLICATIONS FOR REVERSE OSMOSIS MEMBRANES 
Manufacturers
TABLE 16 MANUFACTURERS OF REVERSE OSMOSIS MEMBRANES 
Trends and Technical Developments 
Organic/Inorganic Nanocomposites
Carbon Nanotube Membranes
Boron Nitride Nanotube Membranes
Aquaporins 
Oxidant-resistant Membranes
Chlorine-tolerant Materials
Forward Osmosis
Pressure-retarded Osmosis 
Concentrate Management, Reuse, Mining
Beneficial Brine Reuse 
Concentrate Minimization
Zero Liquid Discharge
Recovery, Resale of Salts in Desalination
Brine 
NANOFILTRATION 
Applications
TABLE 17 APPLICATIONS FOR NANOFILTRATION MEMBRANES 
Manufacturers
TABLE 18 MANUFACTURERS OF NANOFILTRATION MEMBRANES
Trends and Technical Developments
The Long Beach Method
ULTRAFILTRATION
Applications
TABLE 19 APPLICATIONS FOR ULTRAFILTRATION MEMBRANES 
Manufacturers
TABLE 20 MANUFACTURERS OF ULTRAFILTRATION MEMBRANES 
Trends and Technical Developments 
Fouling Resistant Membranes for Oil Industry
Wastewater Treatment
Reducing the Fat Content of Breaded Fried Foods
MICROFILTRATION
Applications
TABLE 21 APPLICATIONS FOR MICROFILTRATION MEMBRANES

CHAPTER FOUR: ULTRAFILTRATION MEMBRANES: TECHNOLOGIES
AND THE U.S. MARKET (MST044C) 
INTRODUCTION 
STUDY GOAL AND OBJECTIVES 
REASONS FOR DOING THE STUDY 
INTENDED AUDIENCE
SCOPE OF REPORT
METHODOLOGY
INFORMATION SOURCES 
ANALYST CREDENTIALS
RELATED BCC PUBLICATIONS 
SUMMARY
SUMMARY (CONTINUED) 
TABLE 22 VALUE OF U.S. MARKET FOR UF MEMBRANES,
THROUGH 2015 ($ MILLIONS)
FIGURE 7 VALUE OF U.S. MARKET FOR UF MEMBRANES, 2000–
2015 ($ MILLIONS)
MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY
ULTRAFILTRATION MEMBRANE SPECIFICATIONS
RETAINED FEEDSTREAM COMPONENTS 
UF MEMBRANE MATERIALS, MANUFACTURING
COMPARISON OF MEMBRANE PROCESSES 
TABLE 23 COMPARATIVE PARAMETERS OF MEMBRANE
PROCESSES 
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE MEMBRANE INDUSTRY
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE … (CONTINUED)
TABLE 24 A HISTORY OF UF MEMBRANES
INDUSTRY STRUCTURE
STAYING COMPETITIVE
ACQUISITIONS
TABLE 25 MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS, 1995–2010
PRODUCT MIX 
BARRIERS TO GROWTH 
INDUSTRY PLAYERS
INDUSTRY PLAYERS (CONTINUED) 
GEOGRAPHIC FACTORS
GROWTH THROUGH ACQUISITION
THE DIALYSIS INDUSTRY
MAJOR UF MEMBRANE MANUFACTURERS
TABLE 26 PRIMARY PLAYERS, ANNUAL REVENUES, AND
ESTIMATED MARKET SHARE, 2010 ($ MILLIONS/%) 
TABLE 26 (CONTINUED) 
FIGURE 8 PRIMARY PLAYERS AND SHARE OF THE UF MARKET,
2010 (%) 
DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS
UPSTREAM SUPPLIERS
MARKETING AND SALES
CUSTOMERS
Downstream Manufacturing Customers 
Distributors or Partnership-Type Customers 
Health Care Customers
Government Clients
PRICING
TABLE 27 MEMBRANE COST BY CONFIGURATION

CHAPTER FIVE SEAWATER AND BRACKISH WATER DESALINATION
(MST052B) 
INTRODUCTION
STUDY GOAL AND OBJECTIVES 
REASONS FOR DOING THE STUDY 
INTENDED AUDIENCE
SCOPE OF REPORT 
INFORMATION SOURCES 
ANALYST CREDENTIALS
RELATED BCC PUBLICATIONS 
SUMMARY 
SUMMARY (CONTINUED)
SUMMARY (CONTINUED)
TABLE 28 GLOBAL MARKET FOR SEAWATER AND BRACKISH
WATER DESALINATION PLANTS, THROUGH 2015 ($ MILLIONS)
FIGURE 9 GLOBAL MARKET FOR SEAWATER AND BRACKISH
WATER DESALINATION PLANTS, 2000–2015 ($ MILLIONS) 
TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW
WATER QUALITY 
SAFE DRINKING WATER STANDARDS 
WATER QUANTITY 
WATER SALINITY
TABLE 29 WATER SALINITY AND SUITABILITY FOR HUMAN
CONSUMPTION (MG/L) 
TABLE 30 SALT CONCENTRATIONS OF VARIOUS GLOBAL WATERS
(PPM) 
TABLE 31 WATER HARDNESS
SOURCE WATERS USED FOR DESALINATION
TABLE 32 TOTAL WORLD DESALINATION CAPACITY BY SOURCE
WATER TYPE, 2010 (%) 
FIGURE 10 TOTAL WORLD DESALINATION CAPACITY BY SOURCE
WATER TYPE (%) 
DESALTED WATER END USES 
TABLE 33 GLOBAL DESALTED WATER END USES AS A
PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL CAPACITY (%)
FIGURE 11 GLOBAL DESALTED WATER END USES AS A
PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL CAPACITY (%)
DESALINATION TECHNOLOGIES
BRIEF HISTORY OF DESALINATION
Brief History of Desalination (Continued) 
FIGURE 12 DESALINATION TECHNOLOGIES
MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGIES
THERMAL TECHNOLOGIES
COMPARISON OF THERMAL AND MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGIES
TABLE 34 COMPARISON OF PROCESS CHARACTERISTICS
COMPARATIVE COSTS OF DESALINATION
TECHNOLOGIES
TABLE 35 GLOBAL COMPARATIVE COSTS OF THERMAL AND
MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGIES ($/M3) 
GLOBAL DESALINATION INSTALLATIONS 
TABLE 36 GLOBAL INSTALLATIONS BY NUMBER OF PLANTS AND
CAPACITY, 1945–2009 (M3/D)
FIGURE 13 GLOBAL INSTALLATIONS BY CAPACITY, 1945–2009 (M3)
TABLE 37 LARGEST DESALINATION PLANTS BY CAPACITY,
COMMISSIONED OR CONTRACTED, JULY 2010
TABLE 38 GLOBAL MARKET SHARE BY TECHNOLOGY TYPE, 2010
(%)
FIGURE 14 GLOBAL MARKET SHARE BY TECHNOLOGY TYPE, 2010
(%)
MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGIES 
REVERSE OSMOSIS
TABLE 39 MEMBRANE MANUFACTURERS AND PRODUCT TYPES 
NANOFILTRATION 
ELECTRODIALYSIS
COST OF TECHNOLOGIES
Capital Costs 
TABLE 40 GLOBAL CAPITAL COSTS OF MEMBRANE
DESALINATION BY TECHNOLOGY TYPE AND PLANT SIZE (AVG.
$/GAL.) 
Operating Costs
Operating Costs (Continued)
TABLE 41 COST ALLOCATION OF DESALINATING BRACKISH
WATER WITH RO (%)
FIGURE 15 COST ALLOCATION OF DESALINATING BACKISH
WATER WITH RO (%)
TABLE 42 COST ALLOCATION OF DESALINATING SEAWATER
WITH RO (%)
FIGURE 16 COST ALLOCATION OF DESALINATING SEAWATER
WITH RO (%)
Cost Trends 
TABLE 43 GLOBAL COST TRENDS FOR MEMBRANE
DESALINATION, INCLUDING DEBT SERVICE AND OPERATING
EXPENSES, 1980–2010 ($/1,000 GALS)
FIGURE 17 GLOBAL COST TRENDS FOR MEMBRANE
DESALINATION, INCLUDING DEBT SERVICE AND OPERATING
EXPENSES, 1980–2010 ($/1,000 GALS)
TABLE 44 SEAWATER ELEMENT COST, 1978–2005 ($/1,000 GALS)
FIGURE 18 SEAWATER ELEMENT COST, 1978–2005 ($/1,000 GALS)
TABLE 45 GLOBAL SEAWATER DESALINATION COST
REDUCTIONS
FIGURE 19 GLOBAL SEAWATER DESALINATION COST
REDUCTIONS ($/1,000 GALS. (3.8 M3)) 
MARKET SHARE 
TABLE 46 GLOBAL MEMBRANE MANUFACTURER MARKET
SHARES, 2009 (%)
FIGURE 20 GLOBAL MEMBRANE MANUFACTURER MARKET
SHARES, 2010 (%)
MARKET VALUE BY MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY TYPE 
TABLE 47 GLOBAL MARKET FORECAST BY MEMBRANE
TECHNOLOGY TYPE, THROUGH 2015 ($ MILLIONS) 
FIGURE 21 GLOBAL MARKET FORECAST BY MEMBRANE
TECHNOLOGY TYPE, 2000–2015 ($ MILLIONS)
THERMAL TECHNOLOGIES 
MULTISTAGE FLASH DISTILLATION 
Cost
TABLE 48 COST ALLOCATION OF DESALINATED WATER
PRODUCTION WITH MSF (%) 
FIGURE 22 COST ALLOCATION OF DESALINATED WATER
PRODUCTION WITH MSF (%)
TABLE 49 GLOBAL MSF DESALINATION COST TRENDS, 1955–2010
($/GAL) 
FIGURE 23 GLOBAL MSF DESALINATION COST TRENDS, 1955–2010
($/GAL) 
MULTI-EFFECT DISTILLATION
Multi-effect Distillation (Continued) 
Cost
TABLE 50 COST ALLOCATION OF DESALINATED WATER
PRODUCTION WITH MED (%)
FIGURE 24 COST ALLOCATION OF DESALINATED WATER
PRODUCTION WITH MED (%) 
VAPOR COMPRESSION
MARKET VALUE BY THERMAL TECHNOLOGY TYPE 
MARKET VALUE BY THERMAL … (CONTINUED)
TABLE 51 GLOBAL MARKET FORECAST BY THERMAL
TECHNOLOGY TYPE, THROUGH 2015 ($ MILLIONS)
FIGURE 25 GLOBAL MARKET FORECAST BY THERMAL
TECHNOLOGY TYPE, 2000–2015 ($ MILLIONS)
OTHER TECHNOLOGIES
CRYSTALLIZATION
Freezing
Gas Hydrate Processes 
Membrane Distillation
Memstill
SOLAR HUMIDIFICATION 
FLOW-THROUGH CAPACITOR 
ION EXCHANGE
MARKET VALUE OF OTHER TECHNOLOGIES
TABLE 52 GLOBAL MARKET FORECAST FOR OTHER
TECHNOLOGIES, THROUGH 2015 ($ MILLIONS)
FIGURE 26 GLOBAL MARKET FORECAST FOR OTHER
TECHNOLOGIES, 2000–2015 ($ MILLIONS)