How does the bio-fluid work?

For commercial kitchens to meet current legislation, they are obliged to have a system in place to manage their grease disposal. UK Building Regulations 2002 Edition incorporating 2010/13 amendments, state that: H1 Foul Water Drainage : 2.21 Drainage serving kitchens in hot food premises should be fitted with a grease separator complying with BS EN 1825-1:2004 and designed in accordance with BS EN 1825-2:2002 or other effective means of grease removal. Mechline’s bio-fluid is an ‘effective means of grease removal’ as required by the Building Regulations. It uses a blend of specially selected microorganisms that have been chosen for their ability to degrade fats, oils and grease (FOGs) in low oxygen conditions and varying pHs. These bacteria produce a series of extra-cellular enzymes that break down organic matter, including lipase, which can very quickly transform fats (triglycerides) into glycerol and free fatty acids. Glycerol is very soluble in water and being a small molecule, can pass easily into the bacterial cells, where it is used either to build new cellular structures, or as a fuel to produce energy for growth. The free fatty acids present more of a problem, as they are large insoluble molecules. The action of the lipase has only converted one type of large insoluble molecule (the triglycerides) into other large insoluble molecules (free fatty acids). V isually, in a drainage situation, the scale of the problem may have diminished or the characteristics of the fatty material may have changed at this point, but the problem will not yet have been fully resolved. The specially selected bacteria in the bio-fluid are able to degrade these free fatty acids by a process known as ß-oxidation, in which chunks are broken off the end of the fatty acid molecule. These chunks can again be used as a building block to produce new structures, or more usually, energy. The breakdown of fatty acids is not an instantaneous process, as the physical form of the fatty acids, being large and insoluble, means that it takes some time (commonly called “residence time”) for the bacteria to “get to grips” with them. This is why the bio-fluid is dosed at 1:00am, when there is little or no water flow, allowing the bacteria time to do their work. Once the fats are broken up by the lipase they cannot chemically reform back into triglycerides. The subsequent breakdown of the fatty acids through ß-oxidation ensures the “grease,” which may actually consist of a variety of insoluble materials, can pass through drainage systems without causing any problems traditionally associated with fats, oils and grease (FOGs). Mechline’s biological drain maintenance system effects the “removal of grease” from drainage systems—keeping drains clear and odour-free and meeting the requirements of the Building Regulations, using an environmentally friendly and non-hazardous fluid.