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 Water Solutions & Technologies Group, the world leader in the treatment of urban and industrial effluents.

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 inorganic matter (technosand) accounting for only 1% to 2% of the quantity of initial liquid sludge ;
Possibility of recycling the technosand for building materials ;
Stabilisation of the heavy metals in the solid residue in a non-leachable form (inert waste) ;
Zero emissions of polluted fumes nor harmful by-products (nitrogen oxides, dioxins, furans) ;
Reduction of the greenhouse effect (50% drop in CO2 emissions compared with incineration) ;
Destruction of toxic and malodorous (hydrogen sulphide, mercaptan, etc.) and organic micropollutants.

A cost-effective thermal process

Operating costs are reduced by:

Moderate operating conditions (temperature and pressure, limited O2 consumption) ;
Reducing the dewatering stage (restricted only to the inorganic fraction of the sludge), with no chemicals addition.

A flexible process

Athos™ provides high operational flexibility :

Treats all types of thickened sludge ;
Possibility of adjusting retention time, temperature and the O2/organic pollution ratio ;
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 its by-products treatment.