We often have new customers come to us after installing large, underground grease traps and interceptors with little to no reduction in FOG.

If this sounds familiar, your FOG contaminants are likely emulsified.  Typically, interceptors float free oil to the top, particulate sinks to the bottom, and wastewater goes out the middle layer to the sewer.  However, if the FOG is emulsified, it won’t float to the top layer and will stay in the water.

Just like hand soap takes the dirt and grease off your hands and goes down the drain, industrial cleaners, by-products, and chemical additives also trap oils and grease in the water phase, emulsifying them.  Once emulsified, they cannot float to the surface as the interceptor design intends.

This is where physiochemical separation comes in.  We use coagulation, flocculation, and finally a Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) unit to separate the contaminants from the clear water, typically removing over 95% of FOG.  The sludge waste is disposed of and the FOG-free water goes down the sewer.

If you’ve already installed a grease trap or interceptor that isn’t working, don’t’ fret — your investment isn’t wasted!  Interceptors are still used as small equalization tanks or transfer sumps as part of a more complete chemical-based treatment system.