- 11 April 2007 -

US ultrafiltration markets to reach US$908 million

The total US market value for ultrafiltration membranes will reach US$908 million by 2011, following its growth from US$579 million in 2005 and US$635 million in 2006. This is according to a new and updated technical market research report, Ultrafiltration Membrane Markets - MST044B from BCC Research.

Broken down between bioseparations/medical and municipal/industrial applications, the market remains largely split down the middle throughout the forecast period, the report goes on to say. Bioseparations will grow slightly to 52% of the total market value throughout the forecast period while municipal/industrial applications will drop slightly to 47%.

In the food and beverage industry, where UF is standard for producing dairy and juice products, profitable new applications are developing in separations needed for protein fractionation, corn and other mill product processing, nutraceuticals manufacture, and wastewater treatment (especially for the meat and poultry industries). A large replacement market for membranes also exists in this sector, although large gains in sales of replacement products are offset somewhat by reductions in module cost, BCC says.

Although UF currently lags behind some other membrane methods for potable water production, it is potentially a very large market, the report says, adding that because UF provides an absolute barrier to bacteria and viruses, communities are increasingly looking to UF as a safer treatment alternative. For industrial water users, UF could see increased application as part of the ultrapure water-making process required in power plants, semiconductor manufacture and other industries.

www.bccresearch.com