Report Overview
Membrane Technology Here to Stay in Chemicals Industry
Membrane separation technology is increasingly being utilized in the chemicals industry for a wide range of applications such as removing water
from organics using hydrophilic membranes. The membrane-based process of pervaporation is gaining importance and is now routinely used in the
chemicals industry for splitting azeotropes. Essentially, the chemicals and pharmaceuticals industries represent opportunities for membrane separation
technology to isolate a pure product.
This Technical Insights study offers you in-depth coverage of key developments and trends in membrane separation. This research provides valuable
information by way of latest technology breakthroughs, detailed lists of pertinent patents along with abstracts, and profiles of key companies.
Discussions of emerging markets and novel medical applications, as well as the impact of regulatory issues on membrane markets and research are also
included.
Medical Applications Provide Huge Opportunities
"Medical applications represent a major market for membranes," says the analyst. Demand for safe blood supplies, dialysis therapy for
end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and blood processing are strong drivers for the continuous development of membrane-based technologies. Membrane
filtration technologies are also finding use in genomics, proteomics, drug discovery, and general laboratory applications in life sciences research,
while medical and bioscience research are generating demand for sophisticated membrane separation and ultra pure water.
Among emerging medical applications, one of the most exciting is the development of an artificial lung based on the Intravenous Membrane Oxygenator.
Animal testing has proved that this lung can handle 40 percent of normal lung function, enough to replace the ventilator in some patient groups.
Need for Clean Water, Environment Fuel Research
Strong market forces such as the over-riding need for clean water and environment spur constant research and development of these technologies.
Reverse osmosis (RO) membrane separation, a major water desalination process, is expected to grow by nearly 10 percent annually. Research aimed at
reducing air pollution has yielded advanced membrane technologies that remove carbon dioxide from flue gas and send it to greenhouses to improve crop
yields, as well as remove sulfur from gasoline.
Major industrial applications are also driving the membrane market. Gas separation applications and the natural gas, oil, and petrochemicals
industries are key markets for membrane separation technologies. "Although there are a number of companies that have well-established gas
separation production using membrane technologies, research continues to improve gas separation processes for specific applications," says the
analyst. Sweetening of natural gas and reducing its high nitrogen content are other challenging but important applications. | 
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