Ion Chromatography Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Technique (Ion-exchange Chromatography, Ion-Exclusion Chromatography, Ion-pair Chromatography), By Application (Environmental Testing, Pharmaceutical Industry, Food Industry, Chemical Industry) and By Region(North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, LATAM) Forecasts, 2023-2031

Ion Chromatography Market Size & Trends

The global ion chromatography market size was valued at USD 1.90 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 3.89 billion by 2031, registering a CAGR of 8.3 % during the forecast period (2023-2031). Ion chromatography is in higher demand due to rising drug analysis and food safety concerns in the pharmaceutical sector, which are the primary market drivers boosting Ion chromatography market growth.

Ion chromatography (IC) is an analytical chemistry technique for separating and quantifying positively and negatively charged ions in a sample. It is based on classic liquid chromatography principles and specifically tailored to handle ionic chemicals. Because of its capacity to evaluate a wide range of inorganic and organic ions, IC is widely utilized in various businesses and research sectors, making it a flexible analytical instrument.

One of the important factors driving the market's growth is the extensive use of ion chromatography in the food and beverage (F&B) industry for correctly evaluating and detecting various ingredients, quality, water sensitivity, and content in food goods to ensure product safety. This is backed up by the widespread use of ion chromatography techniques in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries for quantitative drug analysis, biomarkers, pharmacokinetics, proteomics, and defining new therapeutic compounds. Furthermore, increased demand for ion-exchange chromatography (IEC) for pre-concentration of traceable solution components and water purification operations is adding to a growth in market share.

Ion Chromatography Market Growth Drivers

Environmental Regulations and Monitoring

Stringent environmental regulations and an increasing requirement for environmental monitoring are driving factors in the global ion chromatography (IC) market. IC is an important analytical technique for analyzing water and soil quality, detecting contaminants, and assuring environmental compliance. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States establishes and enforces water quality regulations to safeguard public health and the environment. To verify compliance with these standards, IC is widely used to measure anions (e.g., nitrate, sulfate, chloride) and cations (e.g., sodium, potassium) in water samples. Furthermore, the EU's Water Framework Directive is a comprehensive legislation to achieve good water quality across Europe. IC is frequently used to monitor and analyze ions in European seas to meet the directive's requirements.

According to World Health Organization (WHO) research, 844 million people worldwide lack access to basic drinking water services, creating a global demand for water quality monitoring. The capacity of IC to precisely assess ions, anions, and cations in water and soil samples is critical for environmental monitoring and compliance, making it a crucial tool for environmental scientists and regulatory authorities. The increasing emphasis on environmental protection and safety is closely related to the ion chromatography market trend.

Market Restraints

High Initial Cost

The high initial costs of ion chromatography (IC) equipment, columns, and consumables can be a severe constraint for many laboratories and organizations, particularly those with small or limited budgets. These expenses include procuring integrated circuit systems, specialized columns, detectors, sample preparation equipment, and recurring costs for consumables like eluents and suppressor components.

A high-performance IC system with advanced features and detection capabilities can initially cost USD 30,000 to USD 150,000 or more, depending on the brand and type. This investment may strain the finances of smaller laboratories or research institutions. Various ion analysis applications necessitate the use of specialized IC columns. Columns that cost hundreds or thousands of dollars each must be replaced regularly. Consumables like eluents, suppressor components, and sample containers can contribute to continuing operational costs.

Ion Chromatography Market Opportunities

Emerging Markets and Applications

Adopting ion chromatography (IC) technology in emerging economies and its application in new industries provides major growth prospects for the worldwide IC market. Industrialization, increased awareness of environmental challenges in these regions, and changing research needs are driving this expansion. The Asia-Pacific area is seeing an increase in the use of IC technology in a variety of applications. China, for example, has increased its emphasis on environmental monitoring and water quality studies due to its rapid industrial growth. Water pollution is assessed and regulated using IC, creating a cleaner and safer environment. Furthermore, the pharmaceutical and food industries implement IC for quality control and product safety.

The oil and gas industry has long dominated the Middle East. There is a rising demand for IC to monitor and minimize the environmental impact of these businesses as environmental awareness and legislation increase. IC is critical in analyzing the quality of produced water, determining the presence of contaminants, and guaranteeing environmental compliance. The expansion of IC into emerging economies and its numerous uses in these markets corresponds to the growing demand for accurate ion analysis in various industries. As these regions continue to industrialize and prioritize environmental and quality control, the IC industry will benefit from new growth and market expansion prospects.

Regional Analysis

The global ion chromatography market analysis is conducted in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and Latin America.

North America Dominates the Global Market

North America is the most significant global market shareholder and is estimated to grow at a healthy CAGR over the forecast period. Ion chromatography is utilized for a variety of purposes in the United States. Ion chromatography (IC) has shown to be a useful method for final product testing, pharmaceutical applications, environmental monitoring, food testing, and other purposes. The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) is a non-profit organization that makes money by selling books (USP-NF and other publications) and reference standards. The USP establishes guidelines for the use of ion chromatography in pharmaceutical applications. Many organizations have been added to the market in the United States, including the USEPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency), ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials), and AOAC (Association of Official Analytical Chemists). These organizations also create standards or regulatory techniques of analysis for particular ion chromatography applications.

Furthermore, the developed infrastructure, strong foothold, and strategies of key market players such as Thermofisher, Bio-Rad, Perkin Elmer, and GE Healthcare, among others, will lead to the development of innovations in ion chromatography in this region, thereby driving market growth. For example, in March 2021, Bio-Rad released the BabyBio IEX Screening Kit and BabyBio Peptide Purification Kit, which are pre-packed, ready-to-use ion exchange chromatography columns for the easy and convenient purification of proteins, peptides, and oligonucleotides by utilizing the difference in the target molecule's surface charge. As a result, such measures will increase the usage of ion chromatography in the food industry, driving market growth.

Europe: Fastest Growing Region

Europe is anticipated to exhibit a healthy CAGR over the forecast period. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) usage for factory testing and quality control in the pharmaceutical and food and beverage industries and increased R&D spending are boosting the European market for ion chromatography. These variables are also enhancing LC-MS (Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry) popularity. Furthermore, the German market had the greatest market share, while the United Kingdom Ion Chromatography industry was the fastest expanding in the European region.

Furthermore, Europe's dedication to environmental preservation and sustainability has resulted in consistent demand for IC in water and soil analysis, transforming it into a prominent market driver. With several pharmaceutical businesses and research institutions in Europe, the pharmaceutical Industry is a major consumer of IC technology for quality control and research.

The Asia-Pacific market for Ion Chromatography is expected to rise significantly during the projected period. This is due to factors such as developing healthcare infrastructure, rising demand for ion chromatography in industries such as forensics, pharmaceuticals, and environmental testing, and technological improvements that make chromatography processes more practical and accessible. According to the market insights, China had the highest market share, while India's market for Ion Chromatography was the fastest expanding in the Asia-Pacific region.

Furthermore, environmental pollution challenges in China have resulted in stronger restrictions and a greater emphasis on pollutant monitoring and control. Ion chromatography is critical in analyzing and detecting ions and pollutants in environmental materials. Government initiatives and financing to improve R&D skills and promote the use of modern analytical instruments have favorably impacted the global market.

Segmental Analysis

The global ion chromatography market is segmented based on technique, application, and region.

By Technique

The technique segment is further segmented into ion-exchange Chromatography, ion-exclusion Chromatography, and ion-pair Chromatography.

Ion-exchange Chromatography holds the major share of the market. The most frequent and adaptable type of IC is ion exchange chromatography. It separates ions according to their charge. IEC uses a stationary phase containing charged functional groups, such as anion-exchange or cation-exchange resins. When the sample passes through the column, ions with opposite charges are attracted to the resin and held, whereas ions with the same charge elute faster. The growing usage of ion-exchange techniques in the water sector and the food and beverage industries might be attributed to the growth of the ion-exchange chromatography market.

Organic and inorganic substances not retained by the stationary phase are separated using ion-exclusion chromatography. It is especially effective for analyzing organic acids, alcohols, and sugars. Ions are removed from the stationary phase in IEC, allowing non-ionic molecules to be separated.

By Application

The market can be bifurcated by application into Environmental Testing, the Pharmaceutical Industry, the Food Industry, and the Chemical Industry.

Pharmaceutical Industry accounts for the largest market share. IC is critical in the pharmaceutical business for quality control and analytical testing. It is used in pharmaceutical formulations to test active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), excipients, and contaminants. The availability of government and corporate financing for biotechnology and pharmaceutical research and the rapidly increasing pharmaceutical sector are major factors affecting the segment's growth. Rising R&D activities in this sector for diseases such as cancer and HIV/AIDS and pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies' increased emphasis on expanding their product pipelines are other important market expansion drivers.

IC is widely used in environmental testing to monitor and analyze environmental samples' ions, anions, and cations. This includes testing for pollutants, contaminants, and elements in water and soil.

Recent Developments

• October 2023- Thermo Fisher Scientific expanded manufacturing in St. Louis for complex biologic treatments.
• September 2023- Third-party software for pretreatment units was synchronized with Shimadzu LC and LC-MS.