Global Gas Separation Membrane Market Size (2024-2030)

The Global Gas Separation Membrane Market was estimated at USD 1.92 billion in 2023 and is forecasted to attain a valuation of USD 3.7 billion by 2030, with a growth rate of 9.8% during the projection period from 2024 to 2030.

The necessity to eliminate organic compounds and waste streams is imperative for industrial operations' efficiency and the durability of industrial equipment. This requirement is met through gas separation membrane technologies integrated into industrial processes. Companies release highly corrosive acid gases that corrode pipes, impacting all industrial operations. Gas separation plays a vital role in natural gas processing. Manufacturers have spurred the expansion of the gas separation membrane market by developing durable membrane materials with enhanced selectivity and permeability at competitive prices in recent years. Gas separation membranes are considered the most economical compared to other polymeric membranes in the sector, further propelling the overall expansion of the gas separation membrane market. Additionally, stringent regulations imposed by various governments worldwide for monitoring and controlling carbon dioxide emissions contribute to the sector's growth.

Global Gas Separation Membrane Market Drivers:

The gas separation membrane market is poised to benefit significantly from the increasing demand for membranes in carbon dioxide separation processes:

One of the primary applications of gas separation membranes across various sectors is the removal of carbon dioxide from gas streams. Gas sweetening, enhanced oil recovery, and biogas purification all utilize this technology. The predominant use of gas separation membranes lies in removing carbon dioxide from natural gas, followed by enhanced oil recovery. As natural gas contains substantial amounts of carbon dioxide, categorized as an acid gas, its combination with water becomes highly corrosive, leading to machinery and pipe corrosion, reduced pipeline capacity, and decreased natural gas heating value. To prevent low-temperature chillers from freezing in LNG facilities, carbon dioxide removal is imperative. Hence, carbon dioxide removal stands as a critical separation step for enhanced natural gas processing and delivery. Various gas removal processes, including membranes, the amine guard process, the cryogenic process, pressure swing adsorption, thermal swing adsorption, and the Benfield process, exist, each with its own advantages and limitations. These factors are expected to drive the market for gas separation membranes in carbon dioxide removal applications.

High energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness of membranes are two key market drivers for gas separation membranes:

Gas separation membranes facilitate the sorting of various gases based on their molecular size and shape. Compared to other gas separation processes such as distillation, absorption, or adsorption, they offer higher energy efficiency and cost advantages by avoiding the energy- and resource-intensive gas-to-liquid phase change. Gas separation membranes, being simpler and more modular than other gas treatment options, entail lower operational and capital costs. They find application in various industrial processes including natural gas purification, biogas upgrading, oxygen and nitrogen production, carbon dioxide capture, and hydrogen generation. These applications can enhance the utilization of clean and sustainable energy sources and mitigate carbon emissions, driving the growing demand for gas separation membranes, particularly in the context of climate change and the energy transition.

Global Gas Separation Membrane Market Challenges:

One of the major challenges facing the market is the technical limitations of gas separation membranes compared to other gas separation methods:

Currently, gas separation membranes are primarily utilized for moderate-volume gas streams due to flux and selectivity issues. They cannot compete with amine absorption technology for large-volume gas streams, which is predominantly employed for carbon dioxide removal from natural gas, biogas, and other gas streams. For nitrogen production and oxygen enrichment applications, pressure swing adsorption technology is preferred due to its superior efficiency. Additionally, pressure swing adsorption technology offers higher purity levels of 99.5%–99.9% compared to membrane separation technology, which is limited to approximately 95% purity levels. Moreover, pressure swing adsorption technology boasts a significantly longer lifespan compared to membrane separation technology. These technological drawbacks pose constraints on the development of the gas separation membrane market.

COVID-19 Impact on Global Gas Separation Membrane Market:

The COVID-19 pandemic had a substantial impact on the global market for gas separation membranes, causing disruptions in supply chains and demand across various sectors utilizing gas separation membranes, including oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, and biomedicine. Travel bans and lockdowns imposed by several nations affected the manufacturing and distribution of gas separation membranes. However, with the relaxation of restrictions and the increasing demand for clean and sustainable energy sources such as biogas and natural gas, the market is expected to rebound and expand between 2024 and 2030. Another factor driving the market is the growing need for membrane separation technology in several end-use industries including carbon dioxide capture, hydrogen generation, oxygen and nitrogen production, and natural gas purification.

Global Gas Separation Membrane Market Recent Developments:

• November 2021: Honeywell collaborated with SK Innovation and Energy, a Korean energy refining company, to conduct a feasibility study on retrofitting SK's hydrogen plant with carbon capture. The collaboration aims to explore the removal and storage of 400,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) from existing hydrogen production plants.
• June 2021: The membrane business units of Air Products have been rebranded as Air Products Membrane Solutions.

Global Gas Separation Membrane Market Segmentation: By Material Type

• Polyimide & Polyamide
• Polysulfide
• Cellulose Acetate
• Others

The sector currently holding the utmost significance in the gas separation membrane market is cellulose acetate. Owing to their economical pricing and exceptional selectivity, cellulose acetate membranes find extensive utility across gas separation applications. Moreover, they find applications in diverse industries such as oil & gas, food & beverage, and healthcare. The cellulose acetate membranes are witnessing a commendable growth trajectory owing to their cost efficiency and advantageous mechanical properties.

Anticipated to exhibit the swiftest growth within the gas separation membrane market are the segments of polyimide and polyamide. This surge in demand is attributed to their increasing utilization across various applications including nitrogen production, hydrogen recovery, and carbon dioxide elimination. The superior selectivity, permeability, robust thermal and chemical stability, enhanced mechanical strength, and film-forming properties of polyimide and polyamide membranes render them highly beneficial for gas separation applications.

Global Gas Separation Membrane Market Segmentation: By Application

• Nitrogen Generation & Oxygen Enrichment
• Hydrogen Recovery
• Carbon Dioxide Removal
• Others

The segment projected to witness the most rapid growth during the forecast period is that of nitrogen production and oxygen enrichment. This upsurge is propelled by the escalating demand for nitrogen and oxygen gases across end-use sectors such as food and beverage, healthcare, and chemical industries.

Emerging as the predominant sector in the gas separation membrane market is the domain of carbon dioxide removal. This dominance is a consequence of the extensive usage of carbon dioxide removal membranes in applications such as biogas upgrading and natural gas treatment. The market for carbon dioxide removal membranes is primarily driven by the imperative need to curtail CO2 emissions and adhere to stringent environmental regulations.

Global Gas Separation Membrane Market Segmentation: By Region

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East and Africa

The North American market for gas separation membranes is poised to witness the most rapid growth, owing to the presence of significant end-use industries including chemical, healthcare, and oil and gas sectors. The market in North America is further propelled by stringent environmental regulations pertaining to emission control.

The Asia Pacific region is expected to host the largest and most dominant market for gas separation membranes. This growth is attributed to the rapid industrialization and economic expansion witnessed in countries like China and India. The Asia Pacific market is expanding due to the escalating demand from the industrial sector for nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen.

Key Players:

1. Air Products and Chemicals Inc
2. Ube Industries Ltd
3. Air Liquide Advanced Separation
4. Schlumberger Limited
5. Membrane Technology and Research Inc
6. Evonik Industries AG
7. FUJIFILM Manufacturing Europe BV
8. Honeywell International Inc
9. Generon IGS Inc.
10. DIC Corporation