Water Recycling System Patent Landscape 2026
Water Recycling System Patent Landscape in 2026
The water recycling system patent field spans 2,601 patent families and is in a Growth stage, with the recent three-year window running well above the prior period, though annual filings peaked in 2023 and the most recent years remain undercounted due to publication lag. Activity is moderately concentrated, with Axine Water Technologies leading at 83 patent families, followed closely by Toray Industries and Water Standard, while China dominates as the primary filing jurisdiction.
Axine Water Technologies leads a moderately concentrated field
Axine Water Technologies holds the top position with 83 patent families, ahead of Toray Industries (76) and Water Standard (65). The top five filers — Axine, Toray, Water Standard, Ecolab, and Degremont — collectively account for 19% of the hundred largest filers’ combined total, indicating a competitive but not monopolized landscape.
The tier gap between the leader and the second rank is narrow (83 vs. 76 patent families), and a broad mid-tier of industrials, oil majors, and research universities fills positions six through twenty. This structure signals that no single applicant has achieved decisive IP dominance, and challengers remain within striking distance.
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Axine Water Technologies | 83 | |
| 2 | Toray Industries Inc | 76 | |
| 3 | Water Standard Co LLC | 65 | |
| 4 | Ecolab USA Inc | 46 | |
| 5 | Degremont SA | 40 | |
| 6 | Saudi Arabian Oil Co | 35 | |
| 7 | Regents of the University of California | 33 | |
| 8 | National University of Singapore | 30 | |
| 9 | General Electric Co | 27 | |
| 10 | Evolution Aqua Ltd | 27 |
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | VEOLIA WATER SOLUTIONS & TECHNOLOGIES SUPPORT SAS | 25 | |
| 12 | Dow Global Technologies LLC | 25 | |
| 13 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 25 | |
| 14 | KING ABDULLAH UNIV OF SCI & TECH | 24 | |
| 15 | DOOSAN HEAVY IND & CONSTR CO LTD | 24 | |
| 16 | Baker Hughes Co | 23 | |
| 17 | Mitsubishi Electric Corp | 22 | |
| 18 | BOYING XIAMEN SCI & TECH | 22 | |
| 19 | CarbonCure Technologies Inc | 22 | |
| 20 | California Institute of Technology | 21 |
The presence of multiple industrial incumbents (Toray, Ecolab, General Electric, Mitsubishi Electric), oil-sector players (Saudi Arabian Oil, Baker Hughes), and research institutions (Regents of the University of California, National University of Singapore, MIT) reflects a technically diverse competitive ecosystem where applied and fundamental research coexist.
Filing counts for 2024–2026 are materially understated due to patent publication lag; any apparent softening in those years should not be interpreted as a structural slowdown. Longer-window growth, applicant concentration, and technology-route coverage are therefore more reliable signals than the latest-year bar alone.
Multi-year growth sustained; treatment chemistry and membrane separation dominate the technology mix
The filing trend and IPC composition charts together reveal a field that has grown on a multi-year basis even as annual volume has eased from its 2023 peak, while the technology mix remains heavily anchored in water and wastewater treatment chemistry alongside membrane-based separation processes.
Annual filing trend
Filings climbed from 273 families in 2017 to a peak of 346 in 2023, representing the multi-year expansion captured in a 16% recent-window growth figure. The dip to 316 in 2024 and 217 in 2025 reflects standard publication lag rather than a real contraction; the 2026 figure of 55 is a preliminary count only. Engineers should read the 2017–2023 arc as the confirmed signal.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
C02F (water and wastewater treatment) is the dominant IPC class by a wide margin, followed by B01D (separation processes including filtration and membranes). The remaining classes — including E03B (water supply and distribution), B01J (chemical and physical processes), C25B (electrolytic production), and G01N (material analysis) — each hold substantially smaller shares, pointing to areas where coverage thins relative to the core treatment and separation cluster.
↗ 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.
Bath water recycling system
A water recycling system for reprocessing and reusing bathing water from a bath or shower. The bathing water recycling system treats and reuses water that overflows from a bathtub or shower pan. The used bathing water is captured and retained after use. The captured dirty water is then filtered and purified. The filtered and purified water can be… (excerpt from the patent abstract)
| # | Patent | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New and improved system for processing various che… | 852 |
| 2 | Stabilized microporous materials and hydrogel mate… | 221 |
| 3 | Methods and systems for large scale carbon dioxide… | 200 |
| 4 | Process and system for recycling and reusing gray … | 198 |
| 5 | Aquaculture wastewater treatment system and method… | 165 |
| 6 | Production of potable water and freshwater needs f… | 164 |
| 7 | Gray-water reclamation and reuse system | 164 |
| 8 | Stabilized microporous materials | 162 |
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 structure means for R&D investment and competitive positioning
Four structural observations — life-cycle stage, concentration, collaboration patterns, and geographic spread — shape where new entrants and incumbents alike should focus attention.
Growth stage with peak-year easing
The field is classified as Growth. Recent three-year filing volume sits well above the prior three-year window, confirming ongoing expansion on a multi-year basis. Annual volume peaked in 2023 at 346 patent families and has since eased, consistent with a maturing growth trajectory rather than a post-peak decline; publication lag further understates 2024–2026 counts. R&D investment is still attracting new filers alongside incumbents.
Growth · peak 2023Competitive but no dominant incumbent
The top five filers hold 19% of the hundred largest filers’ combined total — moderate concentration that leaves room for challengers. The narrow gap between the leader (83 patent families) and second-ranked Toray Industries (76) means no single party holds a commanding IP position. Mid-tier players including Ecolab, Degremont, Saudi Arabian Oil, and several universities collectively exert meaningful competitive pressure across adjacent technical routes.
Moderate concentrationBASF and National University of Singapore anchor the most active partnership
The most active co-filing pair is BASF and the National University of Singapore, with 14 joint patent families — the largest collaboration count in the evidence. Saudi Arabian Oil Co. co-filed with King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (5 families) and with Saudi Aramco Services (4 families), indicating a vertically integrated IP strategy in the oil-sector water reuse segment. BASF also filed jointly with BASF Schweiz AG (1 family). Academic-industrial partnerships are a structural feature of this space.
Industry–academia linksChina leads filings; US and EPO markets are the primary validation targets
China is the dominant filing jurisdiction, followed by the United States and Europe (EPO). WIPO (PCT) filings indicate meaningful international prosecution activity. India, Japan, Australia, and Canada form a secondary tier, while South Korea, Germany, and Israel round out the top ten. The geographic spread suggests that applicants pursuing global market protection should prioritize CN, US, EP, and PCT as core routes, with India and Japan as high-value secondary markets given their water-stress context.
CN · US · EP · PCT coreGo 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 |
|---|---|---|
| BASF SE | National University of Singapore | 14 |
| Saudi Arabian Oil Co | King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals | 5 |
| Saudi Arabian Oil Co | Saudi Aramco Services Co | 4 |
| BASF SE | BASF SCHWEIZ AG | 1 |
Co-filing pairs, ranked by the number of jointly-filed patent families.
Axine and Toray lead distinct technical routes; challengers accelerate
The top two applicants occupy different technical positions — Axine in electrochemical treatment and Toray in membrane separation — while several challengers show accelerating recent momentum.
Axine Water Technologies
Axine Water Technologies leads the ranking with 83 patent families. Its technology emphasis is concentrated on electrochemical water and wastewater treatment (C02F 1), with additional depth in electrolytic production of compounds (C25B 9 and C25B 11), distinguishing it clearly from the membrane-focused challengers. Momentum data for Axine is not separately itemized in the applicant momentum evidence; its position at the top of the overall ranking reflects a sustained multi-year filing program.
patent families: 83Toray Industries
Toray Industries ranks second with 76 patent families, anchoring its portfolio in membrane-based separation (B01D 61 and B01D 65) and water treatment chemistry (C02F 1) in roughly equal measure — a dual-route strategy that covers both filtration hardware and chemical treatment. Momentum data for Toray is not separately itemized in the applicant momentum evidence, but its overall rank and breadth across two major IPC clusters signal a well-established incumbent position.
patent families: 76| Applicant | Recent (3 yrs) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Ecolab USA Inc | 12 | ▲ new entrant |
| Saudi Arabian Oil Co | 11 | ▼ -27% |
| Regents of the University of California | 8 | ▲ new entrant |
Under-served branches adjacent to the core treatment cluster
Several IPC branches sit at the periphery of the dominant C02F and B01D core, with low share relative to their technical relevance to water recycling. These are observations of relative sparsity; entry viability depends on each applicant’s existing capability base.
C25B · Electrolytic production of compounds
C25B (electrolytic production of compounds) holds 120 patent-record-level entries — roughly 1% of the IPC distribution — despite electrochemical oxidation and electrocoagulation being recognized treatment routes for difficult industrial effluents. Axine Water Technologies has already staked a position here (43 and 24 entries at the C25B 9 and C25B 11 subclass level respectively), but the branch remains sparse relative to C02F. Teams with electrochemistry expertise in adjacent domains such as water splitting or industrial electrolysis have a plausible entry path via adaptation of existing cell designs to water treatment applications.
Search this in Eureka →G01N · Material analysis & testing
G01N (material analysis and testing) accounts for 102 patent-record-level entries — approximately 1% of the IPC distribution — even though real-time water quality sensing and inline analytics are prerequisite enabling technologies for closed-loop recycling systems. Kemira (Kemira Oyj) has already signaled interest here with G01N 21 subclass activity. The branch is sparse relative to its importance in smart water management, and teams with sensor, spectroscopy, or AI-assisted detection capabilities face a relatively open competitive field for novel inline water quality measurement methods integrated with recycling control loops.
Search this in Eureka →How leaders differ by technology route
Strength of each leader across the main technology routes.
| Player | C02F 1 · Water & wastewater treatment | C02F 9 · Water & wastewater treatment | C02F 103 · Water & wastewater treatment | C02F 3 · Water & wastewater treatment | B01D 61 · Separation processes (filtration etc.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water Standard Co LLC | Strong · 61 | Strong · 39 | Absent | Absent | Strong · 44 |
| Toray Industries Inc | Strong · 62 | Absent | Absent | Absent | Strong · 62 |
| Axine Water Technologies | Strong · 81 | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent |
| Evolution Aqua Ltd | Strong · 27 | Strong · 27 | Absent | Strong · 27 | Absent |
| Ecolab USA Inc | Strong · 44 | Absent | Moderate · 10 | Absent | Absent |
| General Electric Co | Strong · 27 | Moderate · 8 | Moderate · 9 | Absent | Absent |
Frequently asked questions
The evidence covers 2,601 patent families in scope globally. Filing activity has grown on a multi-year basis, with a 16% increase in the recent three-year window versus the prior equivalent period.
Axine Water Technologies leads with 83 patent families, focused on electrochemical water treatment routes. Toray Industries follows with 76 patent families, emphasizing membrane-based separation processes.
China is the dominant jurisdiction by a substantial margin. The United States is the second most active market, followed by Europe (EPO) and WIPO (PCT) filings. India, Japan, Australia, and Canada form a meaningful secondary tier.
The field is in a Growth stage. Recent three-year filing volume is well above the prior three-year window. Annual volume peaked in 2023 and has eased since, but 2024–2026 figures are understated due to publication lag and do not signal a structural decline.
C02F (water and wastewater treatment) is the dominant IPC class, followed by B01D (separation processes including filtration and membranes). These two classes together represent the large majority of the IPC distribution, with all other branches holding substantially smaller shares.
Yes. The most active co-filing pair is BASF and the National University of Singapore, with 14 joint patent families. Saudi Arabian Oil Co. co-filed with King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (5 families) and with Saudi Aramco Services (4 families). Academic-industrial partnerships are a recurring structural feature of the landscape.
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Disclaimer. This page is generated from PatSnap Eureka data drawn from a limited snapshot of global patent and scientific-literature records, and is provided for general information and reference only.
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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