Membrane bioreactor systems are used to treat biologically active wastewater that comes from municipal or industrial sources. According to a new report from Research and Markets, the global market for membrane bioreactor systems is set to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.28% between 2014 and 2019.
That would take the overall value of the market to $2,927 million by 2019.
Membrane bioreactor technology is deployed in wastewater applications requiring higher treatment standards which cannot be achieved by conventional processes. Various membranes can be used for filtration processes, including ultrafiltration, microfiltration and nanofiltration, and for the removal of dissolved substances such as salts and dissolved organics using reverse osmosis.
As Research and Markets points out, fresh water supplies have come under pressure due to the rapid rise in the world's population and greater industrialization. That has boosted the recycling of used water. These trends, combined with public awareness about the possible negative effects of treating water with chemicals, have resulted in the municipal and industrial sectors turning their attention towards the use of membrane bioreactors.
Membrane bioreactor technology combines conventional activated sludge processes with microfiltration or ultrafiltration to achieve secondary biological treatment and tertiary filtration in a single step. It is easy to operate and can help produce high-quality effluent, which means that it can aid in the recovery of domestic sewage.
The major types in the membrane bioreactor systems market are hollow fiber, flat sheet and multi tubular. Hollow fiber systems are expected to remain the largest segment of the market over the next five years, while multi-tubular systems are predicted to grow at a slower rate than the other two types.
Municipal wastewater treatment accounts for the biggest share of the market, followed by industrial wastewater treatment. Asian countries, especially China, Japan and India, have emerged as leading markets for membrane bioreactor systems, Research and Markets found.
