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Animal Feed
Pellets
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Alfalfa Cubes
Steam is injected into the conditioner tube above the
pellet machine to increase temperature, reduce friction, and facilitate
pelletizing. BRZ™ holds up to 55% of its weight in moisture. The addition
of
˝ to 1% BRZ™ allows the operator to increase the steam and temperature at the
dies. This reduces resistance through the dies and allows up to 35% higher plant
throughout with no increase in power costs. Typically ˝ to 1% BRZ™ will replace
3 to 5% bentonite. The increased temperature enhances gelatinization and
produces a more durable pellet.
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Mineral: Volcanic mineral called
"clinoptilolite" (see spec sheet)
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Size:
-100 mesh
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GRAS: Classified as “GRAS”
(generally regarded as safe)
under 21 CFR Part 182.2729, 40 CFR Part 180.1001
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Color:
Pale green when dry, dark
green when wet
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Moisture:
Holds up to 55% of its weight in water
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Surface
Area:
High surface area 24.9 square meters/gram
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Weight:
55 pounds per cubic foot
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Hydrophilic
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Sodium: <0.5%
(no water soluble sodium)
PELLET
MILL TESTING RESULTS
28 MAY 2002
INTRODUCTION
On 28 May 2002, a comparative
test of
BRZ™
and another zeolite that is currently being used as a
pellet binder
were conducted at the Ag Canada Research Station at Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.
10 kgs. of the other zeolite were used per metric tonne and 8kgs of BRZ were
used. The particle
size distribution of the two samples was as follows:
|
PARTICLE SIZE |
OTHER ZEOLITE |
BRZ™ ZEOLITE |
|
Greater than 100 mesh |
18.7% |
0.0% |
|
100 x 200 |
9.0% |
51.3% |
|
200 x 325 |
25.0% |
25.6% |
|
Minus 325 |
46.3% |
23.1% |
RESULTS OF TESTS.
|
PARAMETER |
OTHER ZEOLITE |
BRZ™ ZEOLITE |
|
Inlet temperature |
106 degrees F |
131 degrees F |
|
Outlet temperature |
157 degrees F |
148 degrees F |
|
Temp. increase due to
friction |
51 degrees F |
17 degrees F |
|
Capacity of pelletizer |
75% |
95% |
|
Amperage |
25 to 35 |
25 to 30 |
|
Outlet moisture |
10% |
9.9% |
|
Pounds per bushel |
49.4 |
49.25 and 49.5 |
|
Pellet durability index (PDI) |
95% |
95% |
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BENEFITS |
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·
LOWER
WEIGHT USAGE AND COST THAN BENTONITE OR LIME
·
INCREASE
PRODUCTION BY UP TO 35%
·
LOWER UNIT
ENERGY COST
·
INCREASED
ANIMAL HEALTH AND PRODUCTIVITY
·
REDUCED
DIARRHEA
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BETTER
FEED CONVERSION OF HIGH FAT, OILS, OR UREA (NPN)
·
LESS DIE
WEAR
·
BETTER
FLOWABILITY OF FEED INGREDIENTS
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ODOR
CONTROL FOR ANIMALS (less ammonia)
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HIGHER
TEMPERATURES STERILIZE WEEDS
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HIGHER PELLET DURABILITY INDEX (PDI) Higher temperature helps
gelatinizing creating more durable pellets.
·
BRIGHTER
GREEN PELLETS
·
MOISTURE
CONTROL TO REDUCE MOLD
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CONCLUSIONS
·
The inlet
temperature was run 25 degrees higher with the BRZ due to the greater water
absorption. The higher inlet temperature using the BRZ resulted in 1/3 of the
friction compared to the other zeolite (17 degrees compared to 51 degrees). The
temperature is controlled by injecting steam to the conditioner tube of the
pellet machine. The operator increases the steam until the machine begins to
plug. The indications of plugging include
a squealing noise from the pelletizer
as the rolls tend to skid over the dies, an increase in amperage, and a burning
odor. The other zeolite used began to plug the pellet machine when the
temperature reached a little more than 106 degrees F. The BRZ did not start to
plug until the temperature was above 131 degrees F. The BRZ holds 55% of its
weight in water; the other zeolite holds only some 20% of its weight in moisture
– this is the reason that the BRZ is a more effective pellet binder.
·
The lesser
friction using the BRZ resulted in a 20% increase in the capacity of the
pelletizer.
·
Although the
amperage was slightly lower using the BRZ, the unit amperage cost of production
was significantly less with the BRZ.
·
The BRZ afforded
a greener color than the other zeolite.
·
The outlet
temperature of the BRZ was 9 degrees F lower than the other zeolite. This is
extremely important, because in most pellet operations, the limiting factor is
the cooler capacity to cool the pellets.
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