Gas separation membrane market

Gas separation can be done by using a variety of membranes such as polymeric membranes, mixed membranes, silica membranes, microporous membranes, zeolite membranes, and others. Gas separation based on membranes provides several advantages such as low costs involved in operation and maintenance, user-friendly approach, and lower energy consumption. Membrane-based gas separation system uses the difference in permeability of gas molecules passing through the membrane material, to separate the gases from each other. Gas separation techniques are widely adopted in oil refinery and gas production industries for applications such as dehydration of natural gas, carbon dioxide removal, and production of liquid nitrogen. The pharmaceutical industry is focused on development of novel methods for separation processes to reduce the costs involved in active ingredient manufacturing. Gas separation membranes are used in the pharmaceutical industry to separate oxygen gas for medical purposes.

Global Gas Separation Membrane Market - Impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak was first reported on December 31, 2019, in Wuhan, China. The World Health Organization had declared COVID-19 as pandemic on March 11, 2020. According to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Weekly Epidemiological Update by the World Health Organization, over 3.5 million new cases (global) were reported from May 24, 2021 to May 31, 2021 due to coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Impact of COVID-19 on Demand and Supply of Gas Separation Membranes

The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown in various countries across the globe have impacted the financial status of businesses across all sectors. The private healthcare sector is one such sector that has been majorly impacted by the pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the entire supply chain of the oil & gas industry, pharmaceutical industry and biomedical devices industry, mainly due to strict lockdown in several regions. However, the demand for gas separation membranes is expected to increase once lockdown restrictions are eased by the government.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the economy in three main ways; 1) by directly affecting the production and demand; 2) by creating disruptions in distribution channels; and 3) through its financial impact on companies and financial markets.

Thus, impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is expected to limit the growth of the global gas separation membrane market during the forecast period, owing to the decrease in the production and supply of the oil & gas industrial equipment and biomedical devices during the pandemic.

The global gas separation membrane market is estimated to be valued at US$ 972.1 Mn in 2021, and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 5.3% over the forecast period (2021-2028).

Figure 1: Global Gas Separation Membrane Market Share (%) Analysis, By Application, 2021

The increasing demand for carbon dioxide removal is the major factor that is expected to drive the market growth over the forecast period.

Rising carbon footprint across the globe due to industrial activities has led to stringent regulations on carbon emission, which increases the need for carbon dioxide removal techniques, this is expected to drive the growth of gas separation membrane market over the forecast period. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 23% of the total greenhouse gas emission in 2019 was contributed by industries across the globe.

Increasing demand of biogas production and government initiatives to promote biogas production leads to a positive impact on global gas separation membrane market worldwide. For instance, according to the World Biogas Association (WBA) report 2019, Finland government provides tax exemption to Biogas plants for production of biomethane under their Renewable Energy Development Act.

Moreover, increasing number of research and development activities for improving the efficacy of gas separation membranes is expected to aid in the growth of global gas separation membrane market over the forecast period. For instance, in October 2017, Evonik, a German chemicals company obtained a patent for a newly improved three-step membrane process that eliminates additional purification step and generates high yield of gas at a lower energy consumption level.

The rising focus of market players on mergers and acquisitions is expected to further grow the gas separation membrane market over the forecast period. For instance, in 2018, Honeywell, an American conglomerate company acquired Ortloff Engineers, Ltd., an American oil and energy company, to increase business in the gas separation membrane market sector.

Global Gas Separation Membrane Market – Restraints

However, growth of the gas separation membrane market is hindered by issues related to plasticization of polymeric membranes and expensive production process of metallic membranes. According to the Handbook of Plasticizers, Third Edition, 2017, stated that plasticization of polymers leads to reduced performance of the polymeric membrane due to high permeability and low selectivity. Also, the polymeric membrane can totally collapse due to its reduced mechanical strength following plasticization.

Global Gas Separation Membrane Market – Regional Analysis

On the basis of region, the global gas separation membrane market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa.

Asia Pacific region is expected to hold dominant position in the global gas separation membrane market over the forecast period, owing to growing industrialization and rise in natural gas consumption for industrial, residential, and commercial use. For instance, according to the National Energy Association (NEA), China witnessed an increase of 10% in the natural gas consumption rate in 2019. Moreover, according to the Trade Map report, 77.32 million tons of natural gas was imported by Japan in 2019.

Rising government initiatives to promote biogas production is expected to drive growth of the market in Asia Pacific. For instance, in December 2018, the Indian government announced its plan to build around 5,000 biogas plants across the country.

North America region is expected to show promising growth in gas separation membrane market due to rising consumption of natural gas as gas separation membranes are required for purification of natural gas. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration data, in 2020, the total estimate of consumed natural gas added up to 30.48 trillion cubic feet in U.S.

Figure 2: Global Gas Separation Membrane Market Value (US$ 228.44 Mn), by Region, 2021

Global Gas Separation Membrane Market – Competitive Landscape

Major players operating in the global gas separation membrane market include Fujifilm Manufacturing Europe B.V., Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Honeywell UOP, Air Liquide Advanced Separations,    Schlumberger Ltd., DIC Corporation, Ube Industries Ltd., Parker Hannifin Corporation, Membrane Technology and Research Inc., and Generon.