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HOSPITALITY STP CASE STUDY
How a Hotel STP Achieved 91% Fat, Oil & Grease Reduction
Industry: Hospitality / Hotel Sewage Treatment Plant (STP)
Plant Scale: 300 m³/day (300 KLD) Capacity
Primary Solution: BactaServe™ FOG BAR (Slow-Release Biological Pellet)
81.25%
COD Removal (800 → 150 mg/L)
88.0%
BOD Removal (250 → 30 mg/L)
> 91.3%
Oil & Grease Reduction (243 → <21 mg/L)
This hotel STP case study explains how a 300 KLD sewage treatment plant achieved 91.3% fat, oil & grease (FOG) reduction using BactaServe™ FOG BAR. The slow-release biological solution eliminated grease scum, reduced COD from 800 mg/L to 150 mg/L and BOD from 250 mg/L to 30 mg/L, restoring healthy biological treatment, improving MLSS performance, and reducing grease-related operational issues.
Background & Technical Challenge
Plant Overview
A leading hotel operates a 300 KLD sewage treatment plant (STP) to treat wastewater generated from guest rooms, kitchens, restaurants, and other hospitality facilities. The wastewater contained significant concentrations of fat, oil & grease (FOG), primarily originating from kitchen and food preparation activities. Excessive FOG loading resulted in grease accumulation, scum formation, and operational issues that adversely affected the plant's biological treatment performance.
The accumulation of FOG reduced treatment efficiency by restricting oxygen transfer, affecting microbial activity, and increasing COD and BOD levels. The resulting grease build-up also contributed to unpleasant odours, higher maintenance requirements, and frequent cleaning of the grease trap and associated wastewater infrastructure.
To restore stable biological treatment, the hotel implemented BactaServe™ FOG BAR, a slow-release biological solution installed within the grease trap to continuously degrade accumulated fats, oils, and grease before they entered the downstream biological treatment process.
The Technical Challenge & Risk
Excessive Fat, Oil & Grease Loading: Large quantities of grease-rich wastewater from hotel kitchens accumulated in the grease trap, resulting in persistent FOG build-up and grease scum formation.
Reduced Biological Treatment Efficiency: Excessive FOG formed a surface layer that inhibited oxygen transfer and microbial activity, reducing the efficiency of the biological treatment process and affecting COD and BOD removal.
Operational & Maintenance Challenges: Continuous grease accumulation increased manual cleaning requirements, contributed to unpleasant odours, and affected the reliable operation of the sewage treatment plant.
Risk of Poor Effluent Quality: High concentrations of fat, oil & grease entering the biological system increased the likelihood of reduced treatment performance and non-compliance with discharge quality requirements.
Need for Continuous Biological FOG Control: The plant required a long-term biological solution capable of continuously degrading fats, oils, and grease within the grease trap without using harsh chemicals or disrupting normal STP operation.
Hotel STP FOG Assessment
Before implementing the biological fat, oil & grease (FOG) treatment programme, a detailed assessment of the hotel sewage treatment plant was conducted to evaluate grease accumulation, biological process performance, and operational challenges. The assessment identified grease trap inefficiencies and excessive FOG loading that were affecting downstream treatment efficiency. Based on these findings, an appropriate deployment strategy for BactaServe™ FOG BAR was developed to restore stable biological treatment.
Assessment Highlights
Grease Accumulation Assessment: Evaluated fat, oil & grease build-up in the grease trap and its impact on wastewater flow and treatment performance.
Wastewater Quality Assessment: Measured key treatment parameters, including Fat, Oil & Grease (FOG), COD, and BOD, to establish baseline operating conditions before treatment.
Biological Process Assessment: Reviewed biomass performance and identified operational issues caused by excessive grease loading, including grease scum formation and reduced treatment efficiency.
Deployment Planning: Determined the optimum quantity and installation location of BactaServe™ FOG BAR within the grease trap to enable continuous biological degradation of accumulated fats, oils, and grease.
BactaServe FOG BAR Treatment Strategy
Why BactaServe™ FOG BAR Was Selected
To control excessive fat, oil & grease (FOG) accumulation in the hotel sewage treatment plant, Amalgam Biotech implemented BactaServe™ FOG BAR, a slow-release biological solution designed to continuously degrade fats, oils, and grease within the grease trap. The product was selected for its ability to biologically digest FOG at the source, preventing grease build-up before it entered the downstream treatment process.
Unlike conventional grease removal methods that require frequent manual cleaning, BactaServe™ FOG BAR gradually releases specialised bacteria that break down accumulated grease over time. This helped eliminate grease scum, improve biological treatment efficiency, reduce COD and BOD, and maintain reliable STP operation with minimal maintenance.
Key Benefits
Biologically degraded fat, oil & grease at the source
Eliminated grease scum and reduced grease accumulation
Reduced COD by 81.3% and BOD by 88%
Improved biological treatment and MLSS performance
Reduced manual grease trap cleaning and maintenance
Continuous slow-release treatment without harsh chemicals
Easy installation with long-lasting biological action
BactaServe™ FOG BAR Deployment Strategy
The treatment programme was designed to provide continuous biological degradation of accumulated fats, oils, and grease within the grease trap, protecting the downstream biological treatment process.
Source-Level FOG Degradation
Continuously degraded fats, oils, and grease at the grease trap.
Slow-Release Treatment
Released specialised bacteria over 25–35 days for sustained biological activity.
Biological Process Protection
Reduced grease loading entering the biological treatment system.
Continuous Performance
Maintained stable STP operation while reducing grease-related maintenance.
Dosing Protocol (300 KLD System)
Plant Flow Capacity | Total Quantity Required | Number of FOG Bars | Lifespan per Bar |
300 KLD | 3 kg total | 3 Pieces suspended in net | 25 to 30 Days slow release |
*Dosing schedule is based on this plant case study and may vary depending on plant operating conditions and site-specific factors.
Performance Results & Analytics
Key Metrics Achieved
91.3% Fat, Oil & Grease Reduction: Fat, oil & grease concentration decreased from 243 mg/L to below 21 mg/L, eliminating grease accumulation and restoring stable biological treatment.
81.3% COD Reduction: COD levels were reduced from 800 mg/L to 150 mg/L, improving overall wastewater treatment performance.
88% BOD Reduction: BOD concentration decreased from 250 mg/L to 30 mg/L, indicating effective biological degradation of organic pollutants.
Improved Biological System Performance: Continuous biological degradation reduced grease scum, supported healthy biomass (MLSS) development, and restored reliable STP operation while reducing maintenance requirements.
Influent Baseline Metrics vs. Secondary Outlet Targets
Parameter Name | Biological Inlet Baseline | Secondary Outlet Result | Performance Impact |
Plant Flow | 300 m³/day | 300 m³/day | Maintained full capacity |
Oil & Grease (O&G) | 243 mg/L | < 21 mg/L | > 91.3% Reduction |
Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) | 800 mg/L | 150 mg/L | 81.25% Reduction |
Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) | 250 mg/L | 30 mg/L | 88.00% Reduction |
Total Suspended Solids (TSS) | 200 mg/L | Polished Outlet | Cleared scum carryover |
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) | 400 mg/L | Polished Outlet | Cleared scum carryover |
Grease accumulation and sewer blockage caused by excessive fat, oil & grease (FOG) discharge before biological treatment.
Client Feedback: Grease & Odour Removal
“Kitchen wastewater entering our 300 KLD hotel STP was causing floating grease layers and foul odours that could affect our guests. After placing BactaServe FOG Bars in the grease traps, fat and grease build-up was continuously broken down, odours were eliminated and Oil & Grease levels were brought below 21 mg/L.”
Chief Infrastructure Engineer
Commercial Luxury Hotel & Resort, India
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Facing Grease Blockages or Odor Issues in Your Hotel STP?
Let our bio-engineers calculate your daily FOG loading and provide a customized BactaServe™ FOG BAR installation protocol.
Step 1: Share your process details and treatment objectives.
Step 2: Our engineers assess your system and operating conditions.
Step 3: Receive a tailored solution and implementation plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How did BactaServe™ FOG BAR achieve a 91.3% Oil & Grease reduction in a 300 KLD hotel STP?
BactaServe™ FOG BAR was placed inside the primary kitchen grease trap using three slow-release biological blocks. Over a 25 to 30-day dissolution period, the blocks released specialised lipase-producing bacteria that digested fats, oils, and grease, reducing Oil & Grease from 243 mg/L to below 21 mg/L.
Performance Highlights:
Target Waste Stream: Grease-rich commercial kitchen wastewater from hotel restaurants, banquet kitchens, and food preparation areas.
COD/BOD Reduction: Reduced inlet COD from 800 mg/L to 150 mg/L (81.25% reduction) and BOD from 250 mg/L to 30 mg/L (88.0% reduction).
Reduced Maintenance: Eliminated heavy grease build-up, helping prevent sewer blockages and reducing the need for manual grease trap cleaning.
Q2: How does a slow-release biological pellet (BactaServe™ FOG BAR) degrade grease at the source?
BactaServe™ FOG BAR gradually dissolves in flowing wastewater, continuously releasing high-performance lipase enzymes and specialised bacteria. These microorganisms break down long-chain fatty acids, triglycerides, and grease into water-soluble glycerol and free fatty acids, helping prevent grease from solidifying further downstream.
Biochemical Process:
Lipase Reaction: Triglycerides + Water → Glycerol + Fatty Acids
Continuous Biological Dosing: Provides 24/7 microbial release for 25 to 30 days, eliminating the need for chemical dosing pumps or daily manual dosing of liquid cultures.
Q3: Why is excessive Fat, Oil & Grease (FOG) harmful to biological aeration basins and MLSS in STPs?
High Fat, Oil & Grease (FOG) levels coat bacterial flocs with an oily layer, reducing dissolved oxygen (DO) transfer and affecting beneficial aerobic bacteria. This can lead to biomass loss, poor Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids (MLSS) settling, excessive foaming, and higher COD and BOD in the treated water.
System Protection Benefits:
Improves Oxygen Transfer: Breaking down FOG in the grease trap helps prevent oil from coating fine-bubble diffusers in the aeration tanks.
Improves Sludge Settling: Reduces the risk of sludge bulking, scum carryover, and poor settling in secondary clarifiers.
Q4: What is the deployment protocol for BactaServe™ FOG BAR in a 300 KLD commercial STP?
For a 300 KLD hotel STP, the recommended protocol is to suspend three 1 kg BactaServe™ FOG BARs (3 kg total) inside the main grease trap using mesh netting. The bars dissolve gradually over 25 to 30 days, providing continuous biological grease digestion without daily maintenance.
Installation Guidelines:
Placement: Position the bars near the wastewater inlet where water movement ensures continuous contact with incoming grease.
Mesh Suspension: Keep the mesh net submerged below the normal water level while preventing it from resting on accumulated sludge at the bottom of the grease trap.
Q5: How does biological FOG degradation compare to chemical grease dosing or manual skimming?
Manual skimming only removes floating grease from the surface and does not prevent downstream blockages. Chemical grease treatments temporarily disperse oil, allowing it to solidify again further along the pipeline. BactaServe™ FOG BAR biologically digests grease into water and CO₂, providing a long-term solution.
Comparison Breakdown:
Manual Skimming: High labour requirements, unpleasant odours, difficult waste disposal, and no protection for downstream pipelines.
Chemical Treatments: Can damage pipelines, affect STP biomass, and only provide temporary grease dispersion.
BactaServe™ FOG BAR: Permanent biological grease digestion, no toxic chemicals, reduced maintenance, and protection for downstream aeration tanks and MLSS.
Q6: What hotel and hospitality wastewater streams benefit most from biological grease trap treatment?
BactaServe™ FOG BAR is suitable for high-capacity commercial kitchens, hotel main kitchens, banquet food preparation areas, resort restaurants, bakery units, and food court grease interceptors that handle large quantities of butter, ghee, cooking oil, and animal fats.
Facility Integration: It digests kitchen grease before it mixes with domestic wastewater, helping maintain stable inlet conditions for efficient secondary biological treatment in the STP.
Written by Ashutosh Vadanagekar
Technical Director, Amalgam Biotech
Ashutosh Vadanagekar has over 22 years of experience in water and wastewater treatment, with expertise in process design and bioculture technology. He develops and implements eco-friendly biological treatment solutions for ETPs and STPs across industries, addressing challenges such as high COD and BOD, ammonia, FOG, odour and biological process instability. He also contributes technical expertise and practical insights to Amalgam Biotech’s wastewater treatment case studies. Connect on LinkedIn