This study investigated the effect of binders on the mechanical properties of pellets, focusing on their strength. Compression tests were conducted to analyze the effects of the water-to-meal ratio, binder type (guar gum and okoho gum), binder/die diameter combinations, and mixed ratios on various parameters. The results revealed that as the water-to-meal ratio increased, the force at peak decreased. Absolute values of energy at both peak and yield were lower in the binder/die diameter and mixed ratio combinations. The guar gum binder consistently exhibited higher absolute values compared to the okoho gum binder across different water-to-meal ratios. Analysis of mean values indicated significant effects of the guar gum binder on peak force, peak strain, and peak energy at different mixed ratios. The water-to-meal ratio and its interactions were also found to be influential. For yield parameters, significant effects were observed in relation to the force at yield, while deflection at yield showed no significant differences. Only the binder had a significant effect on strain at yield, while the mixed ratio solely affected the mean values of energy at yield. These findings contribute to our understanding of how binders impact pellet properties and can be valuable in optimizing pellet formulation and production processes. Further research is recommended to explore additional factors and optimize binder selection for specific pellet applications.

Keywords : Okoho Gum, Guar Gum and Pellets.