Effects of Addition of Various Ingredients during Pelletizing on Physical Characteristics of Green Tea Residue Pellets

Abstract. Pelletizing of biomass can increase their density and thus improve storability and reduce transportation costs. In this study, green tea residues were used as raw materials to produce feed pellets. The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of the addition of several ingredients to green tea residue during pelletizing on the physical characteristics of feed pellets. The ingredients used include water (at moisture levels of 20%, 22%, 24%, and 26%), molasses (0%, 1%, 2%, and 3%), bentonit (0%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2%), and cornmeal (0%, 1%, 3%, and 5%). Wet green tea residues contained 16.7% DM and the following composition (%DM): crude protein (CP), 22.2; crude ash (CA), 5.3; ether extract (EE), 3.4; neutral detergent fiber (NDF), 36.8; and acid detergent fiber (ADF), 20.2. The index of forming rate, pellet durability index (PDI), hardness and density were used to evaluate the physical characteristics of green tea residue pellets. The 24% moisture treatment improved physical quality as indicated by a significantly higher (P