Brine Concentration Technology Market: Current Analysis and Forecast (2024-2032)

Brine production is an important factor that needs to be handled and minimized in several industries, such as desalination, mining, and oil refining industries, and, therefore, brine concentration technology. The key, longer-term goal is to reduce the adverse effects of brine discharge on the environment and to identify and extract as many valuable materials dissolved in the brine as possible. Technologies standard in this category are Thermal evaporation techniques such as Multi-Effect Distillation (MED) which allows the efficient concentration of brine by splitting the feed into multiple stages of evaporation and condensation, and Mechanical Vapor Compression (MVC) which involves using additional mechanical energy to compress and recycle the vapor then used in the evaporation process. Furthermore, solar evaporation uses solar energy to drive the evaporator section for water evaporation and thus would require regions with high solar insulation and commonly available land.

The Brine Concentration Technology Market is expected to grow at a significant rate of around 5.85% during the forecast period (2024-2032). Environmental policies are getting more elaborate, leading to industries needing to use brine concentration technologies when disposing and managing wastewater to avoid incurring fines and adhere to sustainability. Also, the amount of fresh water is diminishing, hence the calls for more recycling and re-use of water; more industries are endeavoring to manage and reuse water that comes out as waste, such as brine. The possibility of extracting other valuable materials like salts, minerals, and metals from brine also fuels the market's expansion because many industries can identify massive resource value and monetize this to offset the cost of the treatment. Recent innovations such as better membrane processes, energy-intensive heat processes, and better-mixed systems are making brine concentration methods much more feasible and cheaper, yielding better operations returns. Moreover, companies focus on M&As, investments, and partnerships as key strategies to gain market position and revenue. For instance, in 2023, Evoqua Water Technologies, an industry leader in mission-critical water treatment solutions, acquired the Texas-based industrial water treatment service business of the former Bob Johnson & Associates from Kemco Systems, further strengthening Evoqua's service footprint in the Texas market.

Based on the type, the market has been divided into calcium and sodium chloride. Calcium chloride is anticipated to witness an enormous growth in terms of CAGR in the years 2024-2032. One significant factor is its importance as a de-icing agent, contributing to the demand, especially in areas with severe winter conditions. Moreover, it is also utilized in the oil and gas industry for well drilling and completion fluids; therefore, the demand for calcium chloride increases along with the growing oil and gas industries. Another factor that aids market growth is that the agricultural sector benefits from the product used as a condition for the soil and crops. Developments and innovations in how calcium chloride can be applied and used in various sectors, as well as discoveries on how best to enhance its performance in its use, are other factors that contribute to the market's growth. For instance, in June 2023, Occidental Chemical Corporation (OxyChem) invested USD 1.2 billion in its Geismar, Louisiana plant. This investment will increase the plant's calcium chloride production capacity by 20%, positioning the company to meet growing industry demand. Such investments highlight the industry's recognition of the importance of calcium chloride in brine concentration technology and its broad application spectrum.

Based on the technology, the market is segmented into high-energy reverse osmosis (HERO) and vertical tube falling film. The vertical tube falling film segment dominated the market in 2023. Technology has witnessed developments in design and optimization to improve performance. Improvements have been made in tube shape, surface coatings, and flow dynamics to improve heat transfer efficiency and reduce fouling or scaling concerns. These innovations have helped increase overall system performance while lowering operational expenses.

For a better understanding of the market adoption of brine concentration technology, the market is analyzed based on its worldwide presence in countries such as North America (U.S., Canada, and the Rest of North America), Europe (Germany, France, U.K., Spain, Italy, Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, Rest of Asia-Pacific), Rest of World. Asia Pacific has the largest market share compared to other world regions. With such a growing human population, reduced water availability, and the need to meet the demand for freshwater, especially in coastal areas, brine concentration technology has received considerable attention and application in Asia. To address the need for fresh water in the region, large capital costs have been dedicated toward developing brine desalination and concentration capability. There is fast urbanization, industrialization, and population growth in the Asia Pacific region; therefore, there will be a higher demand for water and high water stress levels. Thus, the governments and enterprises of the region are actively seeking and investing in the technology for the concentration of brine to have a sustainable water supply. On the other hand, North America is expected to witness the fastest market growth throughout the forecast period. Shortage of water, population growth, and the need for appropriate solutions for a sustainable freshwater supply created the development of brine concentration technology in North America. The region has used several methods to increase the concentration of brine, and some of the novel technologies include vertical tube falling technologies.

Some of the major players operating in the market include Veolia, Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, H2O Innovation, Aquatech International LLC, Kovalus Separation Solutions, Waterloo Hydrogeologic, IDE, Saltworks Technologies Inc, Samco Technologies, and Gradiant.