Filtration and Separation Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Technology (Physical Filtration, Chemical Filtration, Biological Filtration), By Product Type (Liquid Filtration Systems, Air & Gas Filtration Systems, Centrifugal Separators, Magnetic Separators), By Application (Water & Wastewater Treatment, Food & Beverage Processing, Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology, Oil & Gas Industry, Power Generation, Others), By Region & Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 121.01 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	5.31%
Fastest Growing Segment	Chemical Filtration
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 165.06 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Filtration and Separation Market will grow from USD 121.01 Billion in 2025 to USD 165.06 Billion by 2031 at a 5.31% CAGR. Filtration and separation consist of the mechanical or chemical processes utilized to isolate solid particulates, fluids, or gases from a continuous medium through a permeable barrier. The global market is primarily propelled by stringent environmental regulations that mandate rigorous air and water quality standards alongside the rapid acceleration of industrial activities in emerging economies. Furthermore, the pharmaceutical and food processing sectors continue to drive demand due to their critical requirement for high purity levels in manufacturing workflows.

According to EDANA, in 2024, the production volume of nonwovens in Greater Europe increased by 2.6 percent to reach approximately 2.98 million tonnes, reflecting the sustained industrial reliance on these essential filtration substrates. Despite this positive growth trajectory, the market faces a substantial challenge regarding the high operational expenditures associated with energy consumption and the frequent replacement of fouled membranes. These recurring maintenance costs often impede the financial viability of extensive industrial purification projects and limit broader adoption.

Key Market Drivers

Escalating global demand for potable water and wastewater treatment solutions acts as a primary catalyst for the filtration and separation market. As freshwater scarcity intensifies, municipalities and industrial facilities are increasingly prioritizing advanced reuse strategies and Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) systems. This shift necessitates high-performance membranes and filtration units capable of treating complex effluents to potable or process-grade standards. The financial impact of this trend is evident in the recent performance of major industry players. According to DuPont, February 2025, in the 'Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Results', the Water Solutions segment delivered low-double-digit organic sales growth driven by broad-based volume recovery. This surge underscores the urgent necessity for reliable purification technologies to ensure regulatory compliance and operational resilience across water-intensive sectors.

The growing requirement for ultrapure fluids in semiconductor and electronics production further accelerates market expansion. As chip manufacturers transition to smaller nanometer nodes and AI-driven architectures, the tolerance for microcontamination in process chemicals and water has virtually vanished. Consequently, fabrication plants are investing heavily in advanced filtration ecosystems to remove sub-micron particles that compromise yield. According to Entegris, February 2025, in the 'Fourth Quarter of 2024' financial release, net sales reached $850 million, reflecting a 5 percent increase from the prior year, driven by the sector's recovery and technological complexity. Reflecting the broader trajectory of industrial filtration needs, according to Donaldson Company, in 2024, full-year sales rose to $3.6 billion, marking a 4.5 percent increase over the previous fiscal period.

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Key Market Challenges

High operational expenditures associated with energy consumption and the frequent replacement of fouled membranes significantly restrict the growth of the global filtration and separation market. These recurring expenses increase the total cost of ownership for industrial users, often making advanced purification systems less financially attractive compared to legacy alternatives. In sectors operating with tight margins, the substantial energy load required to maintain flow rates through fouled barriers can negate the theoretical efficiency gains of new technology. As a result, facility operators frequently defer critical upgrades or limit the scale of implementation to avoid inflating their ongoing operating budgets.

This economic pressure is particularly evident in the water and wastewater sector, a primary consumer of filtration technologies. According to the American Water Works Association, in its 2025 State of the Water Industry report, only 41 percent of utilities expressed full confidence in their ability to cover rising service and infrastructure costs through existing rates and fees. This lack of financial certainty forces organizations to prioritize basic maintenance over new capital investments in advanced filtration systems. Consequently, the market experiences slower expansion as end-users struggle to justify the long-term operational liabilities despite the functional benefits of superior separation capabilities.

Key Market Trends

The widespread adoption of single-use filtration technologies is fundamentally reshaping the biopharmaceutical manufacturing landscape. Producers are increasingly transitioning from fixed stainless-steel equipment to disposable filter capsules and flow path assemblies to eliminate complex cleaning validation processes and minimize cross-contamination risks. This shift significantly accelerates batch changeover times, allowing facilities to adapt quickly to varying production demands for biologics and vaccines. The market scale of this transition is evident in the financial performance of key technology providers. According to Sartorius, January 2025, in the 'Media Release | Preliminary Results 2024', the Bioprocess Solutions Division, which focuses on these single-use solutions, generated sales revenue of 2,690 million euros, highlighting the sector's heavy reliance on disposable purification platforms.

Simultaneously, the industry is experiencing a critical development of biodegradable and sustainable filter media to address the environmental impact of spent filtration products. Manufacturers are actively engineering novel filtration layers using renewable resources such as cellulose and lignin to replace persistent synthetic fibers, thereby reducing the carbon footprint associated with incineration and landfill disposal. This sustainability focus is driving significant capital allocation toward material science innovation. According to Mann+Hummel, May 2025, in the 'Annual Report 2024', the company's research and development investments rose to 128.3 million euros, a strategic expenditure facilitating the introduction of cellulose-based prototype filters that reduce the product's CO2 footprint by over 50 percent.

Segmental Insights

The Chemical Filtration segment is currently identified as the fastest-growing category in the Global Filtration and Separation Market due to expanding industrial requirements. This growth is primarily driven by the rising demand for high-purity chemicals and the stringent enforcement of environmental safety standards globally. Regulatory frameworks established by authorities such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency mandate rigorous waste management and emission control protocols, thereby necessitating the adoption of effective filtration solutions. Consequently, manufacturers are prioritizing reliable separation technologies to ensure compliance and maintain operational integrity during complex chemical processing stages.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a dominant position in the Global Filtration and Separation Market due to a well-established industrial sector and stringent regulatory frameworks. The region enforces rigorous environmental standards regarding water treatment and air quality control, primarily overseen by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. These mandates compel manufacturing and municipal facilities to invest in compliance-focused filtration technologies. Additionally, the robust presence of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors further sustains demand for high-purity separation processes, ensuring consistent market stability across the United States and Canada.

Recent Developments

• In November 2025, Parker Hannifin entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Filtration Group Corporation for approximately $9.25 billion. This strategic acquisition was intended to significantly expand the company's portfolio of industrial filtration technologies and strengthen its presence in the life sciences, HVAC, and industrial markets. The transaction added a complementary business with a strong recurring revenue stream, as a large portion of the target's sales were generated from the aftermarket. The deal was expected to create one of the largest global industrial filtration businesses, delivering substantial cost synergies and enhancing the company's ability to serve customers worldwide.
• In September 2024, the Donaldson Company expanded its capabilities in the life sciences sector by launching comprehensive filtration services for manufacturers in France, Germany, and Austria. This strategic initiative focused on the food and beverage industry, offering on-site support to ensure product and process integrity throughout the filtration system's lifecycle. The new service portfolio included integrity testing for sterile air and liquid filters, equipment calibration, and compressed air quality measurement. By combining global expertise with a local presence, the company aimed to assist customers in meeting sustainability, efficiency, and efficacy goals within their production facilities.
• In September 2024, Sartorius released the Vivaflow SU, a single-use tangential flow filtration cassette designed to streamline laboratory workflows. Engineered for feed volumes between 100 mL and 1,000 mL, this product offered enhanced flexibility for ultrafiltration and diafiltration processes. The all-in-one design allowed operation with standard laboratory pumps, eliminating the need for complex setup or cleaning, which reduced contamination risks. Additionally, the cassette featured a housing constructed with over 30% less plastic and incorporated other eco-friendly elements, aligning with the company's sustainability goals while improving operational efficiency for researchers isolating molecules.
• In June 2024, Mann+Hummel launched a new cabin air filter featuring advanced nanofiber technology to the automotive aftermarket. The company designed the FreciousPlus filter to improve air quality inside vehicles by effectively capturing ultra-fine particles, pollutants, and allergens. This innovation leveraged nanofibers that are significantly thinner than conventional filter fibers, creating a mesh structure capable of removing up to 90% of particulate matter in the PM1 class. The product release aimed to address growing health concerns regarding respiratory issues caused by fine dust, ensuring cleaner breathing air for vehicle occupants and setting a new standard in filtration efficiency.

Key Market Players

• Danaher Corporation
• Parker Hannifin Corporation
• MANN+HUMMEL International GmbH & Co. KG
• Donaldson Company, Inc.
• Eaton Corporation plc
• 3M Company
• Alfa Laval Corporate AB
• Pentair plc
• Porvair plc
• Cummins Inc.

By Technology	By Product Type	By Application	By Region
Physical Filtration Chemical Filtration Biological Filtration	Liquid Filtration Systems Air & Gas Filtration Systems Centrifugal Separators Magnetic Separators	Water & Wastewater Treatment Food & Beverage Processing Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Oil & Gas Industry Power Generation Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Filtration and Separation Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Filtration and Separation Market, By Technology:

• Physical Filtration
• Chemical Filtration
• Biological Filtration

• Filtration and Separation Market, By Product Type:

• Liquid Filtration Systems
• Air & Gas Filtration Systems
• Centrifugal Separators
• Magnetic Separators

• Filtration and Separation Market, By Application:

• Water & Wastewater Treatment
• Food & Beverage Processing
• Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology
• Oil & Gas Industry
• Power Generation
• Others

• Filtration and Separation Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE