Biodegradation of Grease Trap Waste by Lipolytic Fungi under Local Ambient Conditions

Abstract

Relatively higher concentrations of fat, oil and grease (FOG) are contained in hotel and restaurant wastewater which makes it difficult to be treated through cost-effective conventional biological treatment systems. The present study is aimed at finding a suitable solution to the persistent problem of proper disposal of FOG. Different lipolytic fungi were isolated from the grease trap waste. Lipolytic activity and the rate of FOG degradation were employed to identify for the most efficient degraders of FOG. Biodegradation of grease trap waste was tested by inoculation of a particular fungal isolate containing approximately 1 * 107 spores per 1 ml to FOG in a tray type reactor at 30 °C and using coir fibre (size <1.7 mm) as the bulking agent. FOG removal efficiency was observed as 48- 88% in 72 hours for isolate F1-F5. The developed protocol for biodegradation of FOG was found to be effective for practical applications to treat grease trap waste.