What Biothane does

Biothane is a French-headquartered specialty brand and business unit of Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies that designs and supplies anaerobic industrial wastewater treatment plants and biogas/biomethane upgrading systems. Its portfolio spans granular-sludge reactors (Biothane Advanced UASB, Biobed Advanced EGSB, Biobed EBS, Biobed DUO), suspended-growth and biofilm reactors (Biobulk CSTR, Sparthane AnSBR, Memthane AnMBR, Anoxthane AnMBBR), biogas conditioning and upgrading (Sulfothane H2S removal, MemGas 3-stage membrane separation to >95-99% methane), and the Vithane nutrient chemistry line used to sustain reactor biology. R&D laboratories and pilot facilities are based in Delft, Netherlands, supporting wastewater characterization, biodegradability testing, and design validation.

The company monetizes through capital-equipment sales of treatment plants (UASB, EGSB, CSTR, AnMBR, AnMBBR reactors with associated settlers and membranes) supplemented by professional services — consultancy and feasibility studies, laboratory and pilot trials, operational support and service contracts (including Hubgrade remote monitoring), plus consumables revenue from Vithane nutrient blends and granular biomass supply. Pricing is project-specific and quote-based rather than published list pricing. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales delivered through Veolia's worldwide regional network (Europe, North America, Latin America, South-East Asia, Middle East), targeting named industrial customers (Arla Foods UK, Bonduelle, AB Foods Thailand, C&C Group/Bulmers, Aviko) and municipal utilities (Cagnes-sur-Mer, Toulouse).

End markets are organized vertically: Food & Beverage (breweries, dairy, fruit juice, soft drinks, potato), Pulp & Paper, Chemical & Pharmaceutical (PTA, penicillin, insulin, organic acids), Fermentation & Biofuels (bioethanol, vinasse, spent wash), and Municipal wastewater. Quantified performance claims include 70-99% COD removal, biogas production capacity of 0.1-14 MW per installation, water reuse up to 99.9% in MPP Systems applications, and energy savings of 85-90% versus distillation in MPPS. No revenue, headcount, or funding figures are disclosed at the Biothane level because the unit's financials consolidate into Veolia Water Technologies.

Name

Biothane

Legal name

Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies

Website

https://biothanesolutions.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Biothane, a business unit of Veolia Water Technologies, designs and supplies anaerobic wastewater treatment plants and biogas/biomethane upgrading systems (UASB, EGSB, CSTR, AnMBR, MemGas) for industrial and municipal customers in Food & Beverage, Pulp & Paper, Chemical & Pharmaceutical, Fermentation & Biofuels, and Municipal markets globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Wastewater Treatment & Biogas Systems

NAICS

Sewage Treatment Facilities (221320), Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132), Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Anaerobic Treatment & Resource Recovery (Biogas/Co-digestion) (EUANADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Anaerobic Digestion (AD) & Biogas/RNG Production (Organics Feedstocks) (BPALAEAC), Water & Wastewater Treatment Plant Equipment (Clarifiers, Aeration, Membrane Systems) (IMAHAEAJ)

Keywords

• Anaerobic wastewater treatment
• Biogas upgrading solutions
• Industrial effluent treatment
• Biomethane production systems
• Membrane bioreactor technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Aubervilliers

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Anaerobic Treatment Systems and Equipment: Design, build, and sale of industrial anaerobic wastewater treatment plants and equipment including reactors, settlers, and associated hardware for industrial clients.
2. Services and Maintenance Contracts: Ongoing operational support, service contracts, training programs, maintenance services, and process optimization services for installed treatment plants.
3. Consultancy and Feasibility Studies: Technical consulting services including site audits, debottlenecking studies, design consultancy, and operational cost analysis for wastewater treatment systems.
4. Laboratory and Pilot Services: Laboratory testing services including wastewater characterization, biodegradability testing, biomass quality evaluation, toxicity tests, and pilot plant trials.
5. Nutrients and Biomass Products: Sale of Vithane micronutrient solutions and granular biomass for anaerobic digestion systems.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Biothane designs, builds, and supplies proprietary anaerobic wastewater treatment systems (UASB, EGSB, CSTR, AnSBR, AnMBR, AnMBBR) and biogas upgrading equipment (MemGas membranes, Sulfothane biological desulfurization) for industrial and municipal clients. The company also delivers supporting nutrient solutions (Vithane), laboratory and pilot testing services, consultancy, and long-term operational support contracts through Veolia Water Technologies' global network.

Product overview

Biothane is a business unit of Veolia Water Technologies specializing in anaerobic industrial wastewater treatment and biogas technologies. The product portfolio consists of core anaerobic treatment technologies (Biothane® Advanced UASB, Biobed® Advanced EGSB, Biobed® EBS, Biobed® DUO, Biobulk™ CSTR, Sparthane™, Memthane®, Anoxthane™) and biogas treatment/upgrading solutions (MemGas™, Sulfothane™). Supporting products include Vithane™ nutrient solutions for biomass optimization and comprehensive services including laboratory testing, pilot plants, consultancy, operational support, and biomass supply. The technologies work together to convert industrial wastewater organic compounds into biogas/biomethane while producing clean effluent, serving Food & Beverage, Chemical & Pharmaceutical, Pulp & Paper, Fermentation & Biofuels, and Municipal markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Vithane: Nutrient solution brand containing macro and micronutrients for anaerobic bacteria metabolism in biological treatment plants. Includes Vithane, Vithane-FeCl3 Mixture, Vithane Complete, Vithane Ferrous Sulphate, Macro MgKCa, and Vithane-S products.

Products and services

• Biothane Advanced UASB High-rate, compact anaerobic granular process (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket) for COD loading rates of 8-14 kg COD/m³/day, ideal for sites with height limitations or rectangular concrete configurations. Includes patented Advanced settler with tilted tube plates for optimum biomass retention.
• Biobed Advanced EGSB Expanded Granular Sludge Bed technology - extremely compact, high-performance anaerobic treatment process for industrial effluents using granular sludge with ultra high organic loading capacity (15-30 kg COD/m³/day) and patented triple-baffle internal settler.
• Biobed EBS (EGSB) Next generation Biobed system with External Biomass Separator enabling chemical Cleaning In Place (CIP) without draining the reactor, designed for wastewaters with high precipitation risk.
• Biobed DUO (EGSB) Advanced two-layer reactor system with dedicated piping grid for improved mixing control, in-situ gas liquid separator cleaning, and sludge inventory management. COD loading rate 20-30 kg COD/m³.day with 75-90% removal efficiency.
• Biobulk CSTR Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor technology with high tolerance for solids, fat and high organic concentrations. Suitable for dairy, meat processing and potato process effluents with medium volumetric loading capacity (2-5 kg COD/m³/day).
• Sparthane (AnSBR) Anaerobic Sequencing Batch Reactor for treatment of wastewaters high in fat, oil, grease and suspended solids without pretreatment requirements. Features batch degassing and semi-continuous settler for maximum biogas production.
• Memthane (AnMBR) Anaerobic Membrane Bio-Reactor combining anaerobic digestion with membrane filtration for high-strength waste streams. Produces superb quality effluent free of suspended solids suitable for reuse and maximizes renewable energy (biogas) production.
• MemGas Membrane technology for upgrading biogas to biomethane (>95-99% methane purity). Converts raw biogas into biomethane suitable for natural gas grid injection or vehicle fuel (bioCNG/bioLNG) through pretreatment, compression, and 3-stage membrane separation.
• Sulfothane Biological H2S removal system for biogas desulfurization. Environmentally safe process with minimal power requirements, no chemicals needed, and clogging-free operation for sulfur recovery.
• Anoxthane (AnMBBR) Anaerobic Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor for treating wastewater at anaerobic conditions and relatively low temperatures. Flexible and robust solution for wastewater with different COD levels and solids, tolerant to variations in organic loads.
• Vithane nutrient solutions Macro and micronutrient solutions for anaerobic bacteria metabolism. Product line includes Vithane (complete micronutrient blend), Vithane-FeCl3 (iron-enhanced granules), Vithane Complete (salt-based), Vithane Ferrous Sulphate (chlorine-free), Macro MgKCa (macro elements), and Vithane-S (H2S removing bacteria blend).
• Laboratory Services & Pilot Plants Laboratory testing facilities in Delft for wastewater characterization, biodegradability testing, biomass quality evaluation, toxicity testing, continuous lab trials, and pilot demonstration units for design validation and debottlenecking studies.
• Nutrients & Biomass Services Supply of granular biomass for reactor re-seeding, acquisition of surplus biomass, biomass quality analysis, and SULFO-Biomass cultures for biological desulfurization plant start-up.
• Consultancy, Audits & Feasibility Studies Design consultancy, site audits, debottlenecking studies, and operational optimization services. Includes Capital Expenditure (CapEx), Operational costs (OpEx), and Total Cost of Ownership analysis.
• Operational Support & Service Contracts Day-to-day operational support including process performance monitoring via Veolia Hubgrade Portal, on-site training programs, maintenance management, spare parts inventory, and full plant operation services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Biogas production capacity: 0.1-14 MW per installation
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, key and innovation.

• SWEETWOODS ConsortiumflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Nine European companies joined forces in this flagship project to develop wood fractionation technology. Development of the concept began in 2016 with full functionality targeted for 2023.
• FibenolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership in the SWEETWOODS consortium project developing a commercial-scale wood fractionation demonstration plant at Imavere, Estonia. Biothane provides water treatment technology enabling 75% water recycling and 90% organic transfer to biogas production.
• Sweetwater Energy InckeyTechnology or IntegrationProvider of Sunburst pre-treatment process technology used in the SWEETWOODS wood fractionation project. Biothane's water treatment integrates with this pre-treatment technology.
• AnoxKaldnescoreTechnology or IntegrationVeolia Water Technologies specialty brand providing biological treatment solutions including ANITA Mox process, combined with Biothane's anaerobic technologies for complete wastewater treatment systems.
• University of GalwayinnovationStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaboration with Professor Piet Lens and IETSBIO3 research group on biogas upgrading projects. Includes visiting researcher program bringing academic research to industrial application.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Fluence Corporation: Provider of decentralized water, wastewater, and anaerobic treatment solutions (including MABR and AD packages) for industrial and municipal clients. Overlaps with Biothane on packaged anaerobic systems and global project delivery.
• Anaergia: Canadian anaerobic digestion and resource recovery company serving municipal and industrial wastewater with biogas-to-energy solutions. Comparable to Biothane in AD/biogas technology and high-strength waste valorization.
• De Nora: Italian water treatment technology company offering electrochemical and biological treatment solutions (including MBBR and anaerobic systems) for industrial and municipal wastewater. Comparable in technology breadth and industrial customer focus.
• Ovivo: Canadian water/wastewater treatment equipment specialist serving industrial and municipal customers with biological, membrane, and anaerobic solutions. Comparable engineering-driven supplier competing for similar F&B, pulp/paper, and municipal projects.
• H2O Innovation: Canadian specialty water treatment firm providing membrane, filtration, and custom industrial/municipal wastewater systems. Adjacent direct peer competing for similar industrial project bids in F&B and pulp/paper.
• Paques: Dutch specialist in anaerobic wastewater treatment and biogas recovery (UASB, IC, Biopaq). Closest direct competitor to Biothane, with overlapping F&B, pulp/paper, and chemical verticals and similar IC/EGSB technology positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Ecolab: Global provider of water, hygiene, and process chemicals serving F&B, pharma, and pulp/paper. Overlaps with Biothane in industrial water treatment, particularly via chemistry and process optimization in shared customer plants.
• Andritz: Austrian industrial group with a Separation and Bioenergy division supplying anaerobic digestion plants for industrial effluent, biogas upgrading, and 2G biofuel applications. Competes with Biothane in pulp/paper, fermentation/biofuels, and bioeconomy verticals.
• Xylem: Global water technology major with broad municipal and industrial wastewater treatment, pumping, and analytics portfolio. Competes with Biothane in municipal tenders and supplies industrial process water solutions.
• Suez Water Technologies & Solutions: Global water and waste management major with industrial and municipal wastewater treatment capabilities including anaerobic and biogas offerings. A broader incumbent competing with Biothane's industrial/municipal accounts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/VeoliaWaterTech
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCXGcz-181WN7rnTai-KpMiA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/veolia-water-tech

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Biothane