What Is a Grease Trap?
A Grease Trap is a device that separates oil discharged from restaurants and food processing plants.
It is also called a grease trap because it can separate not only oil but also leftover food and vegetable scraps.
Kitchen emissions contain a large amount of oil in the water, which can clog sewage pipes and cause foul odors if discharged directly into the sewage system. If the situation worsens further, it can also cause environmental pollution. For this reason, restaurants with commercial kitchens are required to install them.
Grease Traps vary in size and shape depending on the type of business. In addition, they must be maintained by a professional contractor because they must be properly installed and cleaned regularly. Proper handling of Grease Traps is very important for the global environment.
Uses of Grease Traps
Grease traps are widely used in industries that handle cooking oil. The following are examples of grease trap applications:
1. Restaurants and Fast Food Restaurants
Restaurants and fast food restaurants discharge fats, oils, and food residues used in cooking, which must be captured. Grease Traps can capture these fats, oils, and food residues.
Among restaurants, ramen stores, in particular, have a large problem with emissions because of the large amount of oil contained in the soup. The oil used has a tendency to solidify as it cools, which can clog pipes. Container cleaning wastewater also contains large amounts of oil, which may not be able to keep up with separation in traps.
Some stores have teamed up with foundations to install high-performance traps.
2. Food Factories and Processing Facilities
Food factories and processing facilities generate waste such as fats, oils, and food residues. A butcher shop is one example. Since pouring these wastes down the drain can cause environmental pollution and problems with sewage treatment facilities, Grease Traps are used to drain the grease.
3. Medical Facilities and Veterinary Clinics
Medical facilities and veterinary hospitals generate disposable syringes and medical and veterinary equipment. These wastes require the use of Grease Traps for proper disposal at sewage treatment facilities.
4. Public Facilities and Schools
Grease Traps may be installed in public facilities and schools to capture grease and solids discharged from canteens and restrooms. The use of Grease Trap is mandatory in food service centers.
Principle of Grease Trap
Grease Trap consists of three tanks:
1. The First Tank
This is the first tank through which the discharge from the kitchen passes. A mesh basket is installed in this tank. In the basket, relatively large waste such as leftover food and vegetable scraps are removed. Sludge and other discharges that are heavier than water are also removed by sedimentation.
2. Second Tank
This is an intermediate tank where oil is separated and removed. Oil has a lower specific gravity than water, so floating oil is removed using partitions. After the floating oil is removed, the process is transferred to the third tank.
3. Third Tank
Oil is removed in the second tank, but some of the remaining oil is removed in the third tank. In this tank, a trap pipe is installed so that only water is transferred to the pipe. The entrance of the trap pipe is located about midway between the liquids, which prevents light, floating oil from entering the trap.
How to Select a Grease Trap
When selecting a Grease Trap, the selection is made in terms of capacity, shape, and material.
First, select the required capacity of the Grease Trap. Select an appropriate capacity according to the type of industry and the size of the facility where it will be used. If the capacity is small, periodic cleaning will be more frequent and cleaning costs will increase. Therefore, it is important to select an appropriate capacity.
Next, it is necessary to select a Grease Trap with the appropriate shape for the installation location. If the Grease Trap is to be installed in combination with a hand sink or washing machine, a wall-mounted type is suitable. Also, for large restaurants and processing plants, a tank type that is embedded underground may be used.
The material used is also important. You can choose from materials such as stainless steel, polyethylene, and FRP. The appropriate material should be selected according to the type of industry and facility conditions in which it will be used.