Reverse Osmosis Desalination Wastewater Treatment Patent Landscape
Reverse Osmosis Desalination Wastewater Treatment Patent Landscape in 2026
The reverse osmosis desalination wastewater treatment patent field is moderately concentrated, with Desalitech holding a clear lead and the top five filers collectively dominating the largest-filer tier. Activity has plateaued near its 2017 peak, signaling a mature field with selective pockets of under-served technology adjacent to the core water-treatment and separation-process branches.
Desalitech leads a moderately concentrated field with clear tier gaps
Desalitech holds the top position with 31 patent records, well ahead of the next tier. Purdue Research Foundation, Sulzer Management AG, and Sulzer Chemtech AG each hold 12 patent records, followed by IDE Technologies Ltd at 11, placing them in a distinct second tier.
The top five filers account for 23% of the combined total among the hundred largest filers, indicating moderate concentration — no single player commands an overwhelming share, but the gap between Desalitech and the rest of the field is pronounced.
| # | Applicant | Patent records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Desalitech | 31 | |
| 2 | Purdue Research Foundation | 12 | |
| 3 | Sulzer Management AG | 12 | |
| 4 | Sulzer Chemtech AG | 12 | |
| 5 | IDE Technologies Ltd | 11 | |
| 6 | Tianjin Normal University | 10 | |
| 7 | Oceanwell Co | 10 | |
| 8 | Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research | 8 | |
| 9 | TriTech Water Technologies Pte Ltd | 7 | |
| 10 | Krosys | 6 |
| # | Applicant | Patent records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Hangzhou Water Treatment Technology Development Center | 6 | |
| 12 | GS ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION CORP | 5 | |
| 13 | Kookmin University Industry-Academia Cooperation Foundation | 5 | |
| 14 | IDE Water Technologies Ltd | 5 | |
| 15 | Hebei University of Technology | 5 | |
| 16 | TIANJIN SEA WATER DESALINATION & COMPLEX UTILIZATI… | 5 | |
| 17 | Natural Ocean Well Co | 5 | |
| 18 | China Jingye Engineering Technology Co Ltd | 4 | |
| 19 | Changzhou University | 4 | |
| 20 | Tianjin Ronglu Zhongle Technology Co Ltd | 4 |
Desalitech’s lead, combined with the presence of specialized engineering firms (Sulzer, IDE Technologies) and research institutions (Purdue Research Foundation, Tianjin Normal University), suggests the field attracts both commercial system integrators and academic R&D, creating distinct competitive lanes rather than a single dominant ecosystem.
Filings from approximately 2024 onward reflect publication lag and are likely under-counted; the apparent recent softening should not be read as a structural decline. Longer-window growth, applicant concentration, and technology-route coverage are therefore more reliable signals than the latest-year bar alone.
Annual filings plateaued; water treatment and separation dominate the technology mix
The filing trend chart tracks annual activity from 2017 to the present, while the technology composition chart shows how IPC classes are distributed across the patent corpus.
Annual filing trend
Activity peaked at 35 records in 2017, dipped through 2019, recovered to 35 again in 2020, then settled into a range of 12–25 records annually. The multi-year window shows a modest 3% recent growth, but the field is best characterized as mature and plateaued rather than expanding. Figures for 2024–2025 are subject to publication lag and will likely revise upward.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
C02F (water and wastewater treatment) is the dominant branch by a large margin, followed by B01D (separation processes including filtration). Together these two classes account for the overwhelming majority of IPC assignments, confirming that the field remains tightly focused on core desalination and membrane-separation chemistry. Smaller branches — including pumping (F04F, F04B), condensation polymers (C08G), and hydraulic machines (F03B) — represent adjacent areas with sparse coverage.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaHighly cited patent families surfaced by the query
Citation-heavy patent families returned by the query. Use this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents.
UMKEHROSMOSE-ENTSALZUNGSANLAGE UND MODUL DAVON
The inventive reverse osmosis desalination plant comprises reverse osmosis desalination modules which are used together and each of which consists of the following three in-series jointed blocks: a diaphragm pump unit (14), a hydraulic interconnection unit (9) and a diaphragm element unit (3), wherein the hydraulic interconnection unit (9) is provided with… (excerpt from the patent abstract)
| # | Patent | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A pressure exchanger | 64 |
| 2 | Apparatus and method for reverse osmosis desalinat… | 60 |
| 3 | 基于反渗透淡化技术的浓盐水能量回收装置 | 56 |
| 4 | Fluid motor-pumping apparatus and method for energ… | 54 |
| 5 | 一种稀土湿法冶炼废水资源回收及废水零排放处理工艺 | 43 |
| 6 | Continuous Closed-Circuit Desalination Apparatus W… | 43 |
| 7 | 电镀废水处理回用工艺 | 41 |
| 8 | Variable pressure closed circuit desalination | 39 |
Ranked by total forward citations. Citation counts favour older and broadly cited patent families, and broad or adjacent patents may appear when they match the search scope. Treat this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents. Some patent titles may be shown in their original, non-English language where an accurate translation could not be guaranteed.
What the competitive structure means for R&D investment
Four structural signals — maturity stage, concentration pattern, collaboration network, and geographic spread — together define where the most defensible and most open positions lie in this field.
Plateaued field with selective innovation windows
The lifecycle stage is Maturity: annual filings have plateaued near their 2017 peak, with only a 3% recent growth rate. This means foundational system architectures and core membrane-treatment methods are well-claimed. Incremental differentiation in energy recovery, brine management, and process control represents the most viable near-term innovation path within established claim space.
Mature · plateauedModerate concentration with a pronounced leader gap
Desalitech’s 31 patent records place it roughly 2.5× ahead of the next-ranked filers. The top five filers hold 23% of the hundred largest filers’ combined total — high enough to signal established incumbents, but low enough that a focused challenger with differentiated technology can build a defensible portfolio. Academic filers (Purdue Research Foundation, Tianjin Normal University, Hebei University of Technology) occupy mid-tier positions, indicating active university technology transfer.
Moderate concentrationCo-filing activity centers on entity pairs within corporate families
The most active co-filing pairs are Sulzer Chemtech AG with Sulzer Management AG (4 joint records), IDE Technologies Ltd with IDE Water Technologies Ltd (2 joint records), and Natural Ocean Well Co with its affiliated entity (2 joint records). These pairings reflect intra-group portfolio coordination rather than broad cross-sector alliances, suggesting limited open-innovation activity in the field’s current phase.
Intra-group co-filingChina dominates filings; PCT and EPO routes signal global ambition
China accounts for 258 patent records — the largest single jurisdiction — reflecting both domestic manufacturing scale and active local R&D. The United States follows at 55 records, with WIPO PCT at 43 and Europe (EPO) at 28. South Korea, Australia, Japan, India, and Spain each register meaningful coverage, pointing to multi-jurisdictional commercial strategies among the leading filers.
China-led · global spreadGo beyond the landscape: Eureka’s TRIZ Solution agent breaks down an R&D problem and returns patented concept solutions, each with a technical approach and cited patent & literature evidence.
| Applicant | Collaborator | Co-filings |
|---|---|---|
| Sulzer Chemtech AG | Sulzer Management AG | 4 |
| IDE Technologies Ltd | IDE Water Technologies Ltd | 2 |
| Natural Ocean Well Co | Oceanwell Co | 2 |
Co-filing pairs, ranked by the number of jointly-filed patent families.
Desalitech leads on volume; Natural Ocean Well Co and Purdue Research Foundation emerge as new entrants
The applicant ranking is led by a commercial system integrator, with engineering conglomerates and a U. S. research foundation rounding out the top tier. Momentum data identifies two new entrants building positions in the most recent filing window.
Desalitech
Desalitech holds 31 patent records, nearly three times the count of the next-ranked filers. Its technology emphasis spans closed-circuit and variable-pressure desalination system architectures, concentrated in C02F (water treatment) and B01D (separation processes). No momentum trend entry appears in the evidence for Desalitech, suggesting its filing activity predates the recent measurement window — consistent with an established incumbent defending an existing portfolio rather than accelerating.
31 patent recordsNatural Ocean Well Co
Natural Ocean Well Co recorded 4 recent patent records with a ‘new entrant’ momentum signal, indicating it began building its portfolio only in the most recent filing period. Its technology focus spans B01D 61 (membrane separation), C02F 1 (water treatment), and B01D 65 (membrane maintenance and cleaning), suggesting a targeted systems approach. Purdue Research Foundation shows an identical momentum profile — 4 recent records and ‘new entrant’ status — concentrated in C02F 1 and B01D 61, bringing academic process chemistry into the competitive set.
4 patent records · new entrant| Applicant | Recent (3 yrs) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Natural Ocean Well Co | 4 | ▲ new entrant |
| Purdue Research Foundation | 4 | ▲ new entrant |
Under-served branches in pumping, polymer chemistry, and hydraulic energy recovery
Five IPC branches adjacent to the dominant water-treatment and separation-process core show sparse patent coverage relative to their technical relevance to desalination system design. These are observations of relative sparsity; technical and commercial validation would be needed before treating any as a confirmed opportunity.
F04F · Pumping by other means
F04F covers non-conventional pumping mechanisms and registers only 27 patent records — roughly 3% of IPC assignments — despite pressure management being central to reverse osmosis energy efficiency. The sparse coverage, combined with the strong citation draw of energy-recovery and pressure-exchanger patents in the top-cited list, suggests that novel low-energy or wave-driven pumping integration with RO systems may be under-claimed. An entrant with fluid-dynamics or pressure-exchange expertise could explore this adjacency.
Search this in Eureka →C08G · Condensation polymers
C08G (condensation polymers) appears in only 12 patent records — approximately 1% of IPC assignments — even though membrane polymer chemistry directly governs RO selectivity and fouling resistance. Given that Tianjin Normal University’s portfolio already includes B01D 71 (membrane materials) activity, the gap in condensation polymer design specifically for desalination membranes may represent a researchable adjacency for polymer chemistry groups with membrane-fabrication capability.
Search this in Eureka →How leading filers differ across technology routes
Strength of each leader across the main technology routes.
| Player | C02F 1 · Water & wastewater treatment | C02F 103 · Water & wastewater treatment | B01D 61 · Separation processes (filtration etc.) | C02F 9 · Water & wastewater treatment | B01D 65 · Separation processes (filtration etc.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sulzer Chemtech AG | Strong · 24 | Moderate · 10 | Moderate · 12 | Absent | Absent |
| Natural Ocean Well Co | Strong · 13 | Strong · 9 | Strong · 13 | Absent | Strong · 11 |
| IDE Technologies Ltd | Strong · 14 | Strong · 11 | Strong · 14 | Absent | Absent |
| IDE Water Technologies Ltd | Strong · 14 | Moderate · 7 | Moderate · 7 | Absent | Absent |
| Purdue Research Foundation | Strong · 12 | Moderate · 5 | Strong · 7 | Absent | Absent |
| Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research | Strong · 8 | Strong · 5 | Strong · 7 | Moderate · 4 | Absent |
Frequently asked questions
Desalitech leads with 31 patent records, ahead of Purdue Research Foundation, Sulzer Management AG, and Sulzer Chemtech AG at 12 records each, and IDE Technologies Ltd at 11 records.
Annual filings peaked at 35 records in both 2017 and 2020, then settled into a range of roughly 12–25 records per year. A 3% recent growth figure indicates the field is broadly mature and plateaued rather than in rapid expansion. Figures for 2024–2025 are subject to publication lag.
China is the leading jurisdiction at 258 patent records, followed by the United States at 55, WIPO PCT at 43, and Europe (EPO) at 28. South Korea, Australia, Japan, India, and Spain each have meaningful coverage as well.
C02F (water and wastewater treatment) and B01D (separation processes, including filtration and membrane technology) together account for the large majority of IPC assignments, confirming the field’s tight focus on core desalination chemistry and membrane engineering.
Natural Ocean Well Co and Purdue Research Foundation both show a ‘new entrant’ momentum signal, each filing 4 patent records in the most recent measurement window. Natural Ocean Well Co focuses on membrane separation and maintenance; Purdue Research Foundation emphasizes water-treatment process chemistry.
F04F (pumping by other means), F04B (positive-displacement pumps), C08G (condensation polymers), F03G (miscellaneous motors), and F03B (hydraulic machines and engines) each account for a small fraction of IPC assignments. These branches are adjacent to the field’s core and show relatively sparse patent coverage, though they would require further technical and commercial validation before being treated as confirmed opportunities.
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Patent data carries inherent limitations: recent filings (typically the most recent 18–24 months) are under-counted due to standard publication lag; counts may be reported at either a patent-family or a patent-record basis and are not always directly comparable; classification, applicant-name, and citation data may contain errors, duplicates, or omissions; and the underlying search query defines and constrains the scope shown. As a result, the analysis may be incomplete or inaccurate and may not reflect the full technology landscape.
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