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.