Membrane Bioreactor Market Size, Share, and COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Type (Hollow fiber, Flat sheet, Multi-tubular), By Configuration (Submerged & External), By Application (Municipal wastewater treatment & Industrial wastewater treatment), by Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa), Analysis and Forecast 2023-2030

Market Perspective

The global Membrane Bioreactor Market was valued at USD 3.43 Billion in 2022. The market is projected to reach USD 6.43 Billion in revenue by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 7.23%.

The membrane bioreactor market is growing rapidly owing to the increasing need for water treatment solutions owing to the dwindling freshwater resources and rising domestic demand for chemical-free, pure drinking water. Rising environmental concerns about appropriate sanitation and wastewater disposal are also propelling the membrane bioreactor market growth. MBRs are used extensively to treat wastewater generated by the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. Improved film materials and designs, as well as technological improvements, are driving market expansion. Stringent environmental restrictions on wastewater treatment, as well as growing water shortage concerns, are primary drivers of MBR system adoption. Continuous advancements in MBR system efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and reliability, render them increasingly desirable to end users.

Key Insights

• Based on type, the hollow fiber segment held the dominating position in 2022
• Based on the configuration, the submerged segment is expected to generate the largest share over the forecast period
• Based on application, the municipal wastewater treatment segment dominated the market in 2022
• On the basis of region, North America accounted for the largest market share in 2022

Technological Advancement in Membrane Bioreactor Fuel the Demand for Fresh and Processed Water

Recent developments in membrane bioreactor technology have contributed to the rise in the demand for both unprocessed and treated water on a global scale. The existence of finite freshwater resources has brought into sharper focus the importance of constructing cutting-edge and forward-thinking wastewater treatment plants. In addition, a considerable portion of the growing need for clean, drinkable water can be attributed to the expansion of the world's population. Additionally, the rate of industrialization in developing nations such as Brazil, India, China, and Bangladesh is accelerating at a substantial rate. As a direct consequence of the expansion of industrial production, there is a growing demand for the treatment of the effluent stream. In addition to that, there has been a rise in awareness regarding emissions of greenhouse gases, which is anticipated to boost membrane bioreactor market progress.

Rising Government Initiatives to Support the Development of Membrane Bioreactor Market

The limited availability of water has prompted several efforts from governments, which have led to an increase in the amount of money invested in wastewater treatment plants. Over the projection period, factors such as the construction of new wastewater treatment facilities and the advent of process-intensive technologies are projected to drive membrane bioreactor market expansion. Additionally, the municipal and industrial sectors are both subject to strict new laws regarding wastewater emissions, which have been enacted by various governments. The introduction of new laws by the relevant government agencies in economies that are still emerging is likely to stimulate market expansion.

High Initial Investment and Operating Costs Limiting the Market Growth

High initial investment as well as ongoing costs will be a barrier to the expansion of the membrane bioreactor market. In addition, the rising prevalence of fouling in membrane bioreactors is projected to act as a restraint on the membrane bioreactor market throughout the forecast period. A membrane bioreactor has several limitations, including higher capital and maintenance expenses due to the need to clean and replace the membrane, as well as higher energy expenditures. In addition, extra chemicals could be necessary to speed up the process by which waste sludge settles out in the system, which is restricting market growth.

Recent Developments

September 2022: Evac developed a new, medium-sized version of the Evac Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) wastewater treatment plant for various types of ships. The new Evac MBR mid-range handles all wastewater flows according to current standards - and more. It offers the best possible treatment results by filtering up to 99% of microplastic particles and includes the ability to remove nutrients.

June 2021: MANN+HUMMEL's subsidiary MICRODYN-NADIR has rebranded its business sector as MANN+HUMMEL Water & Fluid Solutions. Since 2015, the worldwide active membrane producer has been a part of MANN+HUMMEL's Life Sciences & Environment (LS&E) business unit, producing water, wastewater, and process membrane products and solutions.

Segmentation Analysis

Based on type, the membrane bioreactor market is categorized into hollow fiber, flat sheet, and multi-tubular. The hollow fiber segment has dominated the market share in 2022 owing to lower costs of operation and maintenance compared to multi-tubular and flat sheet membrane bioreactors. Additionally, hollow fiber bioreactors are frequently utilized in a wide number of applications, including desalination, filtration, biochemical processes, and gas separation.

Based on configuration, the membrane bioreactor market is bifurcated into submerged & external. The submerged segment held the largest market share in the market owing to a lower fouling rate, a greater biodegradation efficiency, and lower energy usage are the benefits of this change. In addition to this, it is projected that the growing application of submerged bioreactors in the industrial sector will fuel the rise of the segment. In addition, the installation of submerged MBRs acts as a growth-promoting component of the system. Aeration is one method that can be used to create tangential liquid flow across the membranes of these devices, in addition to them being compact, lightweight, cost- and energy-efficient.

Under the application segment, the membrane bioreactor market is classified into municipal wastewater treatment & industrial wastewater treatment. The municipal wastewater treatment segment is expected to generate the largest share over the forecast period. Membrane bioreactors were intended for municipal wastewater treatment to reuse and recycle water. Compact membrane bioreactors are useful for recycling municipal wastewater in places with limited water and space. For municipal wastewater reclamation, membrane bioreactor systems treat primary effluent and raw wastewater. Urbanization and infrastructural development are likely to drive market expansion in developing countries.

Regional Landscape

North America region held the largest market share in 2022 and is expected to maintain its dominance over the forecast period owing to the presence of facilities in several industries such as automobile, manufacturing, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and chemical are projected to enhance demand for water treatment facilities. The stringent regulatory framework for sewage treatment encourages the adoption of advanced membrane bioreactor technologies as the purpose of these regulations is to protect water resources and ensure the production of cleaner wastewater. Market players in the region are offering MBR systems and related services to meet the growing demand for wastewater treatment solutions.  Overall, North America has a mature and strong market for membrane bioreactors, driven by regulatory requirements, the need for industrial water treatment, and the presence of established market players. The market is expected to continue to grow substantially in the coming years.

Competitive Landscape

• General Electric
• Kemira
• Buckman Laboratories
• Aquatech International LLC
• B&P Water Technologies s.r.l.
• Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
• CITIC Envirotech Ltd
• Calgon Carbon Corporation
• Culligan
• Danaher
• Veolia
• SUEZ
• TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
• KUBOTA Corporation
• MANN+HUMMEL

The global Membrane Bioreactor Market is segmented as follows:

By Type

• Hollow Fiber
• Flat Sheet
• Multi-tubular

By Configuration

• Submerged
• External

By Application

• Municipal Wastewater Treatment
• Industrial Wastewater Treatment

By Region

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
  • Mexico
• Europe
  • France
  • UK
  • Spain
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Russia
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • South Korea
  • Rest of Asia Pacific
• Middle East & Africa
  • GCC
  • North Africa
  • South Africa
  • Rest of Middle East & Africa
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Argentina
  • Rest of Latin America