Global Ion Exchange Membrane Market is estimated to be valued at USD 1.38 Bn in 2024, exhibiting a CAGR of 6.5% over the forecast period 2024-2031. Global ion exchange membrane market is witnessing high growth, owing to increasing demand for ion exchange membranes from water treatment plants across the globe. Furthermore, growing freshwater scarcity issues are encouraging nations to focus on desalination for obtaining potable water, and this boosts the consumption of ion exchange membranes in desalination plants.
Rapid urbanization and growing population have increased freshwater scarcity issues globally. This is encouraging many cities and nations to invest heavily in building new desalination plants as well as expanding the capacity of existing plants. Ion exchange membranes finds key application in desalination plants for purifying seawater. Stringent environmental regulations regarding discharged industrial wastewater have boosted the installation of ion exchange resin based industrial water treatment systems. Ion exchange membrane forms an vital component in such water treatment systems.
Growth in desalination industry boosts demand for ion exchange membranes
The desalination industry has witnessed significant growth over the past decade, due to increasing fresh water scarcity around the world. Desalination plants employ various technologies like reverse osmosis (RO) and electrodialysis (ED) that utilize ion exchange membranes to remove salt from seawater or brackish water to produce fresh water. The growing need for alternative fresh water sources is driving many countries and municipalities to invest in new desalination plants or expand existing capacities. This rising desalination capacity installation boosts demand for ion exchange membranes that are essential components in desalination processes. Major membrane manufacturers are responding to this driver by increasing their R&D efforts and production capacities for ion exchange membranes suitable for desalination.
Increased uptake of fuel cells
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) have gained wide acceptance in various applications like primary and backup power solutions, material handling equipment, and transportation. PEMFC rely on ion exchange membranes as separators as well as electrolytes. The rapidly growing fuel cell market, especially for transportation, boosts the manufacturing of fuel-cell-grade ion exchange membranes with high proton conductivity and low fuel crossover. Several companies developing and commercializing fuel cell systems are partnering with membrane suppliers to ensure adequate membrane supplies. This fuel cell demand is serving as an important growth lever for the ion exchange membrane market.
High material and manufacturing costs
Ion exchange membranes are manufactured using expensive high-performance polymer resins through multi-step energy-intensive processes like solution casting. Thus, the use of specialized facilities and testing equipment further increases the costs. While R&D efforts have improved material formulations and manufacturing techniques over time, ion exchange membranes still command high prices, especially niche-application specialty grades. This economic factor limits their broader adoption, especially in cost-sensitive industries and developing nations. Membrane costs act as a constrain on the growth potential of applications like desalination in these regions.
Dependence on fossil fuels impacts sustainability
Most ion exchange membranes commercially available are made from non-renewable, oil-based fluoropolymers like Nafion. The polymer production process itself relies on fossil fuels. While highly durable and suitable for most applications, these fossil fuel-derived membranes compromise the environmental sustainability credentials of clean technologies like fuel cells. There is a growing demand for "bio-based" or truly renewable ion exchange membranes from natural polymer sources that can eliminate the fossil fuel dependence. However, the technical and economic challenges of natural polymer membranes have slowed their commercialization so far.
Emergence of new application areas presents opportunity
Ion exchange membranes are finding new niche application areas beyond traditional uses in desalination, fuel cells, and industrial separations. For example, these show promise in areas such as water purification, wastewater treatment, green corrosion inhibition, battery technologies, and agricultural and food processing. If technical and economic barriers are overcome, these emerging non-traditional applications could open vast new commercial opportunities. Membrane manufacturers are actively exploring collaboration and product development opportunities in these new domains.
Rising focus on energy storage
Demand for large-scale energy storage solutions increases with the growth of renewable energy sources like solar and wind that have intermittent output. Technologies like redox flow batteries and metal-air batteries employ ion exchange membranes as key components in their design. Significant research worldwide is focused on developing advanced batteries that can provide cost-effective grid-scale storage. Successful commercialization of next-gen energy storage solutions can boost demand for customized membranes optimized for these applications. The energy storage sector is an attractive prospective market for ion exchange membranes.
Link - https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/market-insight/ion-exchange-membrane-market-5394
Key Developments
- In March 2024, Ionomr Innovations made a significant advancement by introducing Iridium-free catalyst coated anion exchange membranes for the production of low-cost green hydrogen. This innovation marked a milestone in the development of green hydrogen systems, as the new Catalyst Coated Membrane (CCM) based on Aemion® Anion Exchange Membranes (AEMs) by Ionomr Innovations eliminates the use of iridium and toxic perfluorinated substances found in conventional materials.
- In 2023, AGC, a world-leading manufacturer of glass, chemicals, and high-tech materials, introduced a groundbreaking product known as the FORBLUE FLEMION ion-exchange membrane. This innovative membrane was specifically designed for use in salt electrolysis plants to produce caustic soda, chlorine, and hydrogen. The newly launched FORBLUE FLEMION F-9060 membrane demonstrated the capability to reduce electrolysis voltage by approximately 40 mV in salt electrolysis plants, leading to a significant decrease in power consumption and subsequently contributing to the reduction of electricity costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
- In 2023, Ionomr Innovations joins forces with Sunfire on industrial-scale AEM electrolysis
- In 2022, Veolia Water Technologies launched new disruptive technology for sesalination and water reuse in Asia Pacific
Key Players
3M, Ion exchange, Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions, Membranes International Inc., AGC ENGINEERING Co. Ltd, Dioxide Materials, Fujifilm Corporation, Ionomr Innovations Inc., Liaoning Yichen Membrane Technology Co. Ltd, Membranes International Inc., Merck KGaA, ResinTech, Saltworks Technologies Inc., SnowPure, LLC, SUEZ, The Chemours Company, RisingSun , Shandong Hengyi New Material Technology Co.,Ltd, ASIA Chemical
