[     Product listing ](/node/56 "  Product listing")

 

 

 

#### Athos™ is a sludge Hydro-Thermal Oxidation (HTO) process, which turns organic sludge with low dry matter into an essentially solid mineral.



    [CONTACT AN EXPERT](https://www.veoliawatertechnologies.com/en/contact)

 



 

 



 [Overview](#1) [Applications](#2) [Resources](#3) 

 

 

## Overview

 

 

 

Athos™ is an innovative process, which combined with anaerobic digestion, enables sludge removal while producing a renewable energy source: biogas.

**Athos™ generates 3 stable and/or recyclable by-products:**

- clean gas
- organic liquid biodegradable by traditional water treatment
- mineral-based inert solid

**Features & Benefits**

The Athos™ process complies with all regulations on the disposal of wastewater treatment sludge whilst remaining cost-effective. It benefits from the technological expertise and track-records of the Veolia Group, the world leader in municipal and industrial water treatment.

***An environmentally friendly process***

Athos™ is a clean technology: all the sludge components are recycled, recovered or discharged to the natural environment with no adverse effects.

- Final result: a concentrate of mineral matter accounting for only 1% to 2% of the quantity of initial liquid sludge;
- Possibility of recycling the technosand for building materials;
- Stabilization of the heavy metals in the solid residue in a non-leachable form (inert waste);
- Zero emission of polluted gases nor harmful by-products (nitrogen oxides, dioxins, furans);
- Reduction of greenhouse gas emission (50% drop in CO2 emissions compared with incineration;
- Destruction of toxic, malodorous (Hydrogen sulfide, mercaptan, etc.) and organic trace substances.

***A cost-effective thermal process***

Operating costs are reduced by:

- Moderate operating conditions (temperature and pressure, limited O2 consumption);
- Reducing the dewatering stage. The dewatering of oxidation residual doesn't require reagents and reaches 50% of dryness.

***A flexible process***

Athos™ provides high operational flexibility:

- Treats all types of thickened sludge (7 to 8% of DS);
- Possibility of adjusting retention time, temperature and oxygen flow, in accordance with sludge composition;
- Equipped with advanced automation.

***A compact process***

Thanks to its compact design, Athos™ can be fully integrated into the wastewater treatment plant and provides continuous sludge processing, as well as by-product treatment.

***Applications***

Athos™ treats all types of thickened sludge :

- Primary
- Biological
- Fresh
- Digested
- Urban
- Industrial

**References**

*P.E.: Population Equivalent*

| **Facility** | Year | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Trucazzanno, Italy | 2004 | 300,000 PE |
| Epernay, France | 2006 | 80,000 PE |
| Brussels North, Belgium | 2008 | 1.2 Million PE |
| Aix-en-Provence, France | 2011 | 175,000 PE |
| Rennes Beaurade, France | 2012 | 360,000 PE |





 

 

 



 

 

 

## Applications

 

 

 

With less than one-hour retention time in the reactor, the Athos™ process results in:

- Continuous and safe oxidation, under continuous mixing;
- High mineralization (less than 5% organic carbon content in the solid residue);
- Separation between liquid and mineral phases;
- Easily biodegradable liquid sidestream.

The heat released by the oxidation reaction is recovered to pre-heat the sludge, with no external energy supply.

**Hydro-Thermal oxidation prototype: Athos™**

   ![](/sites/g/files/dvc3326/files/styles/default/public/image/2019/01/Diagram1.jpg.webp?itok=-9OGk70E)   





 

 

 



 

 

 

## Resources

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 [PDF

  Athos™ Brochure  (292.58 KB)  

    ](/sites/g/files/dvc3326/files/document/2019/01/Athos%20brochure%20EN.pdf)