No Silver Bullets for Treating Emerging Water Pollutants
Despite a wave of new technologies, no single solution can address every possible pollutant leading Lux Research to advise a portfolio approach to clean water technologies
Boston, MA – May 27, 2009 – A rising tide of stark headlines
threatening untold health risks from emerging water pollutants has helped buoy
interest in a host of new water treatment technologies. The latest report from
Lux Research, however, reviews the candidates and concludes a portfolio approach
is wiser than trying to pick a single breakthrough winner.
The report, entitled “Emerging Pollutants: Myth and Reality,”
notes that even if government regulations imposed new water treatment methods
tomorrow, no currently available or emerging technology provides blanket
protection against the multitude of suspected pollutants.
“Despite interest surrounding the new crop of water treatment
technologies, none of them offer a panacea with regard to the growing list of
candidate pollutants,” said Heather Landis, a Lux Research analyst and the lead
author of the report. “Smart investors will therefore take a portfolio approach
rather than trying to pick which technology will win out in the end.”
Emerging pollutants could number in the hundreds. But they
fall into two categories – chemical and microbial – and most of them cannot be
removed by conventional treatment technologies like chemical coagulation or
sedimentation. This has fueled interest in a host of alternative technologies
like ozone, advanced oxidation processes, membranes, activated carbon,
biological filtration and ion exchange.
In preparing its report, Lux studied government lists of
candidate pollutants in the U.S., European Union, Australia and Japan, and
identified 32 substances that are most likely to face regulation within the next
five years. To determine which treatment technologies make the best candidates
for its recommended portfolio approach, the report drew on research studies,
expert interviews and peer-reviewed articles about 18 different technologies to
identify how effective each performed at removing pollutants. It also measured
each technology’s capital cost, operating cost, energy requirements, and process
understanding. Among its key findings:
* Three technologies provide a relatively broad spectrum
of treatment. Ozone, biological activated carbon filters and reverse osmosis
provide the broadest spectrum of treatment, removing at least ten of the 32
pollutants studied.
* Don’t rule out technologies that provide a narrower
spectrum of treatment. Ion and magnetic ion exchange, granular activated
carbon, UV, ultrafiltration and membrane bioreactors are effective for at least
one emerging pollutant. However, their effectiveness in select applications
positions them as high-growth options in a portfolio approach.
* Most water treatment start-ups focused on treating
emerging pollutants will fail. Pollution mitigation technologies able to
treat a broader range of pollutants, or that offer an alternative use in the
water treatment space offer a more sustainable business model, and are more
likely to survive.
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“Emerging Pollutants: Myth and Reality” is part of Lux
Research’s Water Intelligence service. Clients subscribing to this service
receive continuous research on water industry market trends and forecasts,
ongoing technology scouting reports and proprietary data points in the weekly
Lux Research Water Journal and on-demand inquiry with Lux Research analysts.
About Lux Research
Lux Research provides strategic advice and on-going
intelligence for emerging technologies. Leaders in business, finance and
government rely on us to help them make informed strategic decisions. Through
our unique research approach focused on primary research and our extensive
global network, we deliver insight, connections and competitive advantage to our
clients. Visit www.luxresearchinc.com for more information.
June 1, 2009
No Silver Bullets for Treating Emerging Water Pollutants
Despite a wave of new technologies, no single solution can address every possible pollutant leading Lux Research to advise a portfolio approach to clean water technologies
Boston, MA – May 27, 2009 – A rising tide of stark headlines
threatening untold health risks from emerging water pollutants has helped buoy
interest in a host of new water treatment technologies. The latest report from
Lux Research, however, reviews the candidates and concludes a portfolio approach
is wiser than trying to pick a single breakthrough winner.
The report, entitled “Emerging Pollutants: Myth and Reality,”
notes that even if government regulations imposed new water treatment methods
tomorrow, no currently available or emerging technology provides blanket
protection against the multitude of suspected pollutants.
“Despite interest surrounding the new crop of water treatment
technologies, none of them offer a panacea with regard to the growing list of
candidate pollutants,” said Heather Landis, a Lux Research analyst and the lead
author of the report. “Smart investors will therefore take a portfolio approach
rather than trying to pick which technology will win out in the end.”
Emerging pollutants could number in the hundreds. But they
fall into two categories – chemical and microbial – and most of them cannot be
removed by conventional treatment technologies like chemical coagulation or
sedimentation. This has fueled interest in a host of alternative technologies
like ozone, advanced oxidation processes, membranes, activated carbon,
biological filtration and ion exchange.
In preparing its report, Lux studied government lists of
candidate pollutants in the U.S., European Union, Australia and Japan, and
identified 32 substances that are most likely to face regulation within the next
five years. To determine which treatment technologies make the best candidates
for its recommended portfolio approach, the report drew on research studies,
expert interviews and peer-reviewed articles about 18 different technologies to
identify how effective each performed at removing pollutants. It also measured
each technology’s capital cost, operating cost, energy requirements, and process
understanding. Among its key findings:
* Three technologies provide a relatively broad spectrum
of treatment. Ozone, biological activated carbon filters and reverse osmosis
provide the broadest spectrum of treatment, removing at least ten of the 32
pollutants studied.
* Don’t rule out technologies that provide a narrower
spectrum of treatment. Ion and magnetic ion exchange, granular activated
carbon, UV, ultrafiltration and membrane bioreactors are effective for at least
one emerging pollutant. However, their effectiveness in select applications
positions them as high-growth options in a portfolio approach.
* Most water treatment start-ups focused on treating
emerging pollutants will fail. Pollution mitigation technologies able to
treat a broader range of pollutants, or that offer an alternative use in the
water treatment space offer a more sustainable business model, and are more
likely to survive.
“Emerging Pollutants: Myth and Reality” is part of Lux
Research’s Water Intelligence service. Clients subscribing to this service
receive continuous research on water industry market trends and forecasts,
ongoing technology scouting reports and proprietary data points in the weekly
Lux Research Water Journal and on-demand inquiry with Lux Research analysts.
About Lux Research
Lux Research provides strategic advice and on-going
intelligence for emerging technologies. Leaders in business, finance and
government rely on us to help them make informed strategic decisions. Through
our unique research approach focused on primary research and our extensive
global network, we deliver insight, connections and competitive advantage to our
clients. Visit www.luxresearchinc.com for more information.