Market Context — Why This Technology, Why Now

Increasing global demand for clean water, coupled with aging infrastructure and stricter discharge regulations, is creating immense pressure on industries and municipalities worldwide. This technology offers a critical solution by enabling mercury-free, high-efficiency purification, which is essential for meeting evolving water quality standards and reducing operational environmental footprints. It supports circular economy initiatives by facilitating water reuse and minimizing hazardous waste, positioning adopters for long-term sustainability and regulatory compliance.

Key Competitive Advantages
01

Eliminates mercury, reducing environmental impact and disposal risks

02

Enhances purification performance by 1.5x using multi-wavelength UV

03

Ensures reliable purification and stable operation via plasma-based UV emission

Market Opportunity
Industrial Wastewater Treatment
$5B–$10B globally (AI est.)
Stricter regulations on industrial wastewater discharge and increasing demand for water reuse necessitate high-efficiency, low-environmental-impact treatment technologies. This technology offers a versatile solution for diverse industrial effluents.
Large industrial manufacturers with complex wastewater streams Chemical processing plants Semiconductor fabrication facilities
Municipal Water and Wastewater
$10B–$20B globally (AI est.)
Aging infrastructure and increasingly stringent water quality standards are accelerating investments in safe, sustainable potable and wastewater treatment technologies. Mercury-free solutions enhance public acceptance and environmental compliance.
Municipal water utilities Wastewater treatment plant operators Infrastructure development companies
Medical and Food Manufacturing
$2.5B–$5B globally (AI est.)
Sectors demanding rigorous product quality and hygiene management require high-purity water supply and sterilization. This technology provides a solution that balances safety and efficiency for critical applications.
Pharmaceutical manufacturers Food and beverage processing companies Medical device sterilization providers
IP Defensibility — Why Competitors Can't Replicate This
What This Patent Covers

This patent protects the core technology of a multi-wavelength UV light source and its application in water treatment, with 11 diverse claims. Its robustness has been confirmed through successful prosecution against examiner objections, indicating a low invalidation risk and providing a stable foundation for licensees.

Competitive White Space

This patent focuses on the UV light source and its application in water treatment. White space exists in advanced sensor integration for real-time water quality monitoring or novel filtration methods combined with UV treatment.

Economic Impact
~$150K/year estimated environmental cost reduction per facility (est.)
estimated ROI · USD · AI analysis
ROI Calculation Logic

Conventional mercury-based systems incur significant costs for special treatment of mercury-containing waste during lamp replacement and additional compliance expenses. Implementing this technology eliminates these costs, estimated at ~$50K/year (AI est.). Furthermore, improved purification performance reduces reprocessing needs, potentially saving an additional ~$100K/year (AI est.) in chemical and power costs, totaling over ~$150K/year (AI est.) in operational savings.

Speed to Market
6× faster than in-house development
This technology, based on a mercury-free multi-wavelength UV water treatment concept, is a proven patented innovation. Core operating principles of the light-emitting tube array light source have been demonstrated through university research, and fundamental algorithms are established. This could shorten R&D timelines by approximately 2.5 years compared to developing equivalent technology from scratch. Integration into existing water treatment systems could allow for prototype deployment in about 6 months, enabling rapid market entry.
Competitive Positioning

X: Environmental Impact Reduction
Y: Purification Efficiency & Scope

Business Models & Applications
⚙️ Water Treatment System Manufacturing & Sales
Develop and manufacture water treatment systems incorporating this technology, selling directly to factories, municipalities, and commercial facilities. Leverage high performance and environmental compliance to gain market share.
📊 Purification Solution as a Service (SaaS)
Offer water quality management services, including remote monitoring and data analysis, on a monthly subscription basis, in addition to providing the equipment. Secure recurring revenue and reduce customer operational burden.
🤝 Technology Licensing
Grant licenses for this patented technology to other companies in the water treatment sector. Accelerate widespread adoption across various industries and build strategic partnerships to maximize royalty income.
Adjacent Application Opportunities
🌱 Agriculture & Hydroponics
High-Efficiency Agricultural Water Purification
Apply this technology to sterilize and purify recirculating water in hydroponics and aquaculture. It could suppress pathogens and maintain nutrient balance, potentially boosting crop growth and yield by 15-20%. Being mercury-free, it minimizes food safety concerns.
🧖‍♀️ Public Health & Leisure
Safe Pool & Spa Water Quality Management
Utilize for hygienic water quality management in pools and spas. It could reduce chlorine usage by up to 30% while maintaining high disinfection efficacy, offering a more comfortable and safer environment for users. Operational cost savings and reduced environmental impact are also anticipated.
🚀 Space & Closed Environments
Water Recycling for Closed-Loop Systems
Apply to water recycling systems in closed environments like space stations or submarines. Efficiently purifying and reusing limited resources could extend mission durations by 2x and contribute to sustainable environmental maintenance. Miniaturization and weight reduction are also potential benefits.
Integration Roadmap — Estimated 18-Month Deployment
Technical Evaluation & Concept Design
Duration: 3 months
Assess compatibility with the licensee's existing systems, define requirements, and develop a conceptual design. Conduct initial studies for integrating the core technology module into existing lines.
Prototype Development & Validation
Duration: 6 months
Develop a small-scale prototype based on the conceptual design and conduct demonstration tests in the licensee's operational environment. Evaluate purification performance, stability, and power efficiency for optimization.
Full System Deployment & Optimization
Duration: 9 months
Based on prototype validation, build and deploy the full-scale system for the production environment. After an initial operational period, ensure continuous performance monitoring and data analysis to optimize the entire system.
Technical Feasibility
This technology, centered on a light-emitting tube array light source for UV irradiation in water flow paths, is estimated to be relatively easy to integrate into existing water treatment lines. Patent claims explicitly describe a configuration where the light source is placed within the flow path, suggesting potential for modular deployment without extensive facility modifications. High compatibility with general piping systems indicates low technical barriers.
Success Scenario
Implementing this technology could reduce mercury waste disposal costs by approximately 80% annually compared to conventional mercury lamp systems. Furthermore, enhanced purification capabilities from multi-wavelength UV could shorten treatment times to meet water quality standards by about 20%, improving overall operational efficiency. This is estimated to establish a sustainable business operation while mitigating environmental regulatory risks.
Patent Record
APPLICATION NO.
特願2021-093268
REGISTRATION NO.
7687665
FILING DATE
2021/06/02
GRANT DATE
2025/05/26
EXPIRATION DATE
2041/06/02
PATENT HOLDER
学校法人大阪産業大学
Examination History
2024年04月10日
出願審査請求書
2025年02月04日
拒絶理由通知書
2025年04月03日
意見書
2025年04月03日
手続補正書（自発・内容）
2025年04月22日
特許査定