Summer 2022 Newsletter

In each newsletter we highlight a vetted technology, product, or service that we think deserves special attention from our membership.

In this newsletter we draw your attention to Protein Matrix, LLC. This company is changing the way fats, oils, and greases are transferred and treated throughout the wastewater system. The result can significantly enhance your FOG Control program.

WHO ARE THEY? Protein Matrix is a designer chemistry company with a laser focus on fats, oils, and greases in wastewater. These are sticky substances that collect and accumulate food scraps, wipes, and grit, that stick to and eventually occlude pipes and sewer mains, that provide nutrition for bacteria and slimes that produce the odorous, poisonous, and corrosive gas, hydrogen sulfide. In short, FOG is not compatible with wastewater transfer and treatment efforts. In fact, it is detrimental.

WHAT DO THEY DO? Force FOG to play nice. Protein Matrix designs and implements cutting edge chemistry that reacts with FOG and causes it to become compatible with wastewater transfer and treatment infrastructure and processes. Plumbing, pipes, sewers, grease removal devices, lift station wet wells, inverted siphons, headworks bar screens, grit chambers, primary clarifiers, scum pits, DAF's, high strength waste receiving stations and anaerobic digesters are some of the assets that are highly impacted by FOG and can benefit by using Protein Matrix.

HOW DO THEY WORK? Protein Matrix is a chemistry that is derived entirely from American produced agricultural products. The chemistry does NOT rely on enzymes, enzymatic function, bacteria, or microbial action. Protein Matrix does NOT emulsify or dissolve FOG. This chemistry neutralizes the FOG molecule so that it becomes NON-STICKY and FLOWABLE. Once reacted, fat, oil, and greases cannot stick to plastic, glass, concrete, iron or any other surface encountered in a wastewater system. The reacted FOG can no longer accumulate with bits of food, grit or objects encountered in the pipes. The reacted FOG is modified so that it passes easily through pipes, pumps, lift stations and sensitive inverted siphons. The reacted FOG is also more efficiently removed from wastewater via gravity processes such as grease removal devices and primary clarifiers because the FOG retains its normal buoyancy and is not weighed down by objects it is usually bound to such as rags, wipes, food scraps and grit.

WHAT IS COMPREHENSIVE COMPLIANCE CHEMISTRY? Protection for both the producer and receiver of FOG. This is achieved through the application of Protein Matrix chemistry at every level of FOG production and disposal in order to maximize the reliability and efficiency of the plumbing system and the gravity grease removal device. The end result is a FOG producing operation that is proactively managing FOG in order to maintain the highest level of reliability for their business and compliance with the regulatory authority.
Corporate Spotlight

CASE STUDY: National Supermarket Chain February 2021 to July 2021

After a visit from the city and a strongly worded letter from the residents sharing the building, a supermarket chain with a rich history of grease interceptor backups, hydrogen sulfide odor complaints and rising costs from third party service providers finally decided to take action.

Protein Matrix conducted a survey of the property to identify and document the baseline condition which included third party line jetting every 8 weeks, grease interceptor pumping every 6 weeks, daily odor complaints from clients and residents, non-compliant water chemistry at discharge to sewer and photos of trouble spots.

Three treatment stations consisting of 5 gallons of Protein Matrix Eliminator and a wall mounted peristaltic metering pump were positioned at each of the 3 compartment dishwashing sink floor drains. After the treatment stations were turned on, the line jetting contractor took video of the grease buildup in the pipes and performed a thorough cleaning. The grease interceptor was also cleaned, and this baseline cleaning procedure provided a "clean state" from which to assess the performance of the Protein Matrix treatment.

Over the next 6 months all jetting and interceptor cleaning was stopped. Instead, video recordings of the pipes were made to monitor grease deposition and the interceptor total solids were measured every two weeks. Water chemistry from the interceptor sampling port was analyzed and surveys of the property residents and supermarket staff were conducted.

The result was a resounding success with all concerned parties. No more odor was reported in the store, or the parking garage, and the kitchen stewards reported no blockages or slow drains. The interceptor was functioning with very high efficiency as demonstrated by the water chemistry and total solids sampling and did not require special care or extra cleanings. Furthermore, no more line jetting events were required which contributed to a significant overall cost savings during the project. Due to these results the chain is requiring this treatment for all their locations.