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This section provides an overview for seawater filtration devices as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 11 seawater filtration device manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked seawater filtration device companies as of January, 2025: 1.Pure Aqua, Inc., 2.Water anywhere, 3.Applied Membranes, Inc..
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Seawater filtration devices are used to desalinate seawater by desalinating the sodium chloride contained in seawater through filtration.
Desalination of seawater has been practiced for a long time, but in many cases, seawater was treated by evaporation, which required enormous energy and cost. The development of seawater filtration devices, however, has completely changed the situation.
Seawater filtration devices use reverse osmosis membranes in a system based on the principle of osmotic pressure to perform desalination. The system has already been introduced in countries with scarce water resources, such as the Middle East and Africa.
The main application of seawater filtration devices is to desalinate seawater. They are being introduced in countries and regions where water resources are scarce. Japan has abundant water resources, so there are few examples of its introduction.
However, the technology of Japanese companies is among the best in the world and has been introduced in many overseas countries. Especially in arid regions, people are suffering from severe water shortages, and securing water for daily use has become an urgent issue. In addition, there are concerns about the shortage of water resources due to population growth, and demand is expected to grow not only in arid regions but also in other countries around the world in the future.
Seawater is abundant throughout the world, but it cannot be used as domestic water. This is because it contains salt, or sodium chloride. Seawater filtration devices are equipped with reverse osmosis membranes, which remove sodium chloride through filtration using osmotic pressure.
When solutions of different concentrations are separated by osmotic membranes, water moves from a solution of lower concentration to a solution of higher concentration in order to keep the concentration constant. The pressure created in this process is osmotic pressure, and the seawater filtration device performs the reverse of this phenomenon. When a high-concentration solution, i.e., seawater, is partitioned through a reverse osmosis membrane and pressure above the osmotic pressure is applied, sodium chloride is blocked by the membrane and only pure water passes through. This allows seawater to be desalinated and used as domestic water.
In many cases, it is not feasible to load a ship with a large amount of freshwater due to weight considerations. This is where seawater filtration devices come into play. This equipment allows us to purify freshwater when needed and in the amount needed.
For example, a small seawater filtration device (1,200 mm wide x 600 mm deep x 600 mm high, weighing about 120 kg) can filter 250 liters of seawater into freshwater per hour. The filtered fresh water is safe to drink because it meets Japanese drinking water standards. By loading this device on board ships, voyagers can sail without worrying about living and drinking water, even in environments where there is only seawater around.
In the past, it was necessary to load large quantities of water when voyaging or to purchase water at ports along the way. However, the development of seawater filtration devices small enough to be loaded onto a vessel has eliminated this need, allowing for more efficient voyages.
In some cases, seawater is filtered as seawater. The most familiar example of this is the aquarium. The specific mechanism and flow of seawater filtration in an aquarium tank used in an aquarium is as follows.
Remove Enough Debris to Be Visible
Physical Filtration The purpose of this process is to remove fish feces, food scraps, and other visible debris floating in seawater. In general, nets, sponges, wool mats, etc. are used for filtration.
Removing Invisible Debris
Chemical filtration Invisible debris in seawater is removed using materials such as activated carbon, alumina, and seawater nourishing stones. These materials remove debris from the water by adsorption or ion exchange.
The materials gradually deteriorate due to the adsorption of debris and ion exchange. Therefore, the materials need to be replaced periodically.
Filtration
Biofiltration filtration is performed by decomposing organic and harmful substances in seawater through the action of microorganisms such as bacteria. This is the most important type of filtration in aquariums because it can remove organic substances that cannot be filtered by the above two methods.
Challenges to seawater filtration remain, and improvements are being made every day. One of these is the wastewater problem. After filtration through reverse osmosis membranes, what remains is a residual liquid called brine, which has a high concentration of salt and copper. Basically, it is discharged into the sea, but there are concerns about its impact on the environment.
The increase in salinity in the ocean can lead to a decrease in dissolved oxygen, creating an environment in the ocean that is not applicable to marine life. Some countries recommend that the salinity be reduced by dilution treatment before discharge. Since dilution treatment also incurs costs, effective use with a greater awareness of recycling is required.
Currently, research is underway to recycle brine into sodium hydroxide, and tests are being conducted with a view to practical application. Other seawater filtration devices that dilute seawater before desalination are also available.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Forsta Filters Inc., founded in 2010 and headquartered in North Hollywood, California, is a manufacturer of self-cleaning irrigation and industrial water filters. The company’s self-cleaning water filters offer filtration solutions that do not interrupt system flow during the self-cleaning cycle providing automatic solutions for industrial, municipal, and irrigation applications. It provides filters in various materials, including stainless steel, carbon steel with powder coating, duplex stainless steel, and fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP). Some of its self-cleaning water filters include vertical, horizontal, horizontal motor driven, and horizontal clamp- style filters.
ForeverPure Corporation, established in 1995 and located in Santa Clara, California, is a manufacturer of seawater / brackish water systems and commercial/industrial water purification equipment. The company offers various products and services, serving residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal sectors. Its product line includes reverse osmosis systems, desalination solutions, water treatment products, and renewable energy options such as wind turbines and solar power plants. It also offers solar energy products and renewable energy batteries and provides customized solutions, global delivery, and global financing support.
Pure Aqua Inc., founded in the United States since 2001, is a manufacturer and supplier of advanced water treatment solutions. Specializing in custom-engineered systems, the company serves a wide range of industries, including desalination, wastewater, and residential applications. Their global presence ensures seamless access to its wide-range products and services. They design and manufacture commercial and industrial reverse osmosis (RO) water treatment and purification systems with over 9,000 water purification systems built, including 2,000 customized systems. Their systems generates over 200 million gallon of purified water every day for more than 3,000 customers worldwide in over 200 countries.
Applied Membranes, Inc., founded in 1983 with headquarters in the USA, is a manufacturer and distributor of membranes and water treatment systems. The company's products include membrane elements, water filters, membrane filter housing equipment, ultraviolet drinking water disinfection systems, and water treatment accessories and consumables. OEM customers can order directly from Applied Membranes, Inc., and retail customers can purchase products from the Water Anywhere website store. The company also provides installation services for complex systems and after-sales support for both retail and OEM customers.
Wateranywhere, founded in 1983 and located in California, USA, is a supplier of water filtration systems, UV disinfectants, and membrane systems. The company provides water filtration components, including replacement RO membranes from brands like AppIied Membranes, Inc., Filmtec, LG, and GE. Its product line includes carbon filters, water filter cartridges, RO replacement components, and various testing equipment for water quality analysis. It also offers UV water purification systems and replacement components like ultraviolet lamps and quartz sleeves.
TMW Technologies, established in 1999 and located in Les Garennes sur Loire, France, is a manufacturer providing solutions for water efficiency and industrial effluent treatment. The company offers atmospheric pressure evaporators for wastewater treatment using magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) technology under the Ecostill brand. These systems are designed to recycle industrial, hazardous, and toxic liquids, promoting sustainable resource management by producing reusable purified water and concentrated effluents. The company also delivers turnkey solutions for technology installations in containers and workshops, along with customized technical support, expertise, and audits focused on water efficiency.
Hitachi Zosen Corporation was established in 1943 and is a manufacturer of environmental, machinery, and infrastructure equipments based in Osaka, Japan. The company manufactures various machineries such as vacuum equipment, precision polishing devices, sheet extruding equipment, electron beam sterilization devices, and filter presses. Various technologies are developed by the company for the production of the products such as machine simulation, fluid simulation, automated manufacturing, deep UV sterilization, and artificial intelligence. The company has implemented policies for sustainability efforts and adhering to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Guangzhou Chunke Environmental Technology Co. Ltd., established in 2009, is a manufacturer of advanced water treatment solutions headquartered in China. The company specializes in the production of commercial and industrial reverse osmosis water treatment systems, ultrafiltration systems, and many other water purification equipment, used by people and industries worldwide to address diverse water problems. It has supplied to over 1000 projects in more than100 countries worldwide. Its product range includes industrial and commercial water treatment and filtration systems, and also its own production for stainless steel water treatment equipments such as water storage and carbon filter tanks, etc. custom-made for its customers.
NEWater, established by Singapore’s Public Utilities Board, is a provider and manufacturer of treated reclaimed wastewater and water treatment equipments, established in 2004 and is based in China. The company’s unique approach involves purifying conventionally treated wastewater through microfiltration, reverse osmosis, and ultraviolet irradiation. This produces water of potable quality, which is then added to drinking water supply reservoirs. However, the majority of it is used for non-drinking purposes, primarily by industries requiring high purity water. Today, it continues to meet and surpasses the requirements and standards set by US EPA and WHO guidelines, making it a good choice for industries worldwide.
SLB was founded in 1926 and is a manufacturer of oil products and equipments based in Houston, Texas, United States. The company manufactures various products such as geopolymer cement-free system, nested multistage compact wellhead, 3D-printed armor, dual-string barrier evaluation, and autonomous directional drilling. The products are used and applied in oil drilling industry. The company has obtained the ISO 14001 certificate in 2020 and complied to HAZWOPER standards for hazardous waste management.
RainDance Water Systems, founded in 1998 and located in Romano, California, is a manufacturer and supplier of water treatment solutions. The company offers various water softeners, filtration systems, reverse osmosis units, and commercial water treatment products for water sources such as well water and city-treated water. It serves residential and commercial customers worldwide, providing solutions for nitrate filters, sulfate removal, bacteria elimination, and commercial reverse osmosis water purification systems throughout the United States, Venezuela, Spain, Africa, Canada, and Japan.
Ranking as of January 2025
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pure Aqua, Inc. |
29.9%
|
| 2 | Water anywhere |
9.3%
|
| 3 | Applied Membranes, Inc. |
9.3%
|
| 4 | Hitachi Zosen Corporation |
9.3%
|
| 5 | Forsta Filters, Inc. |
8.2%
|
| 6 | ForeverPure corporation |
7.2%
|
| 7 | TMW |
6.2%
|
| 8 | RainDance Water Systems |
6.2%
|
| 9 | NEWater |
6.2%
|
| 10 | SLB |
5.2%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the seawater filtration device page as of January 2025. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
United States of America
|
5 | 55.6% |
|
China
|
2 | 22.2% |
|
France
|
1 | 11.1% |
|
Japan
|
1 | 11.1% |
61 products found
61 products
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