This shrimp feed pelleting trial highlights how Intact Aqua improved production efficiency, maintaining a smooth operation even at higher temperatures than the control. The product also contributed to an improvement in water stability.
Field Trial: Intact Aqua improves production and water stability
The figure shows how the temperature on the control production with a synthetic binder had to be lowered in order to prevent blockages. For the feed produced with Intact Aqua, the temperature could be raised to the desired level, leading to a remarkably smooth-running production. The average temperature for the control run was 95°C, whereas the production with Intact Aqua could be operated at a higher temperature of 105°C.
Samples were collected from each production run and the pellets were tested for stability in water. The pellets produced with Intact Aqua showed a 1.5% improvement in water stability compared to the control run.
Testing method for water stability: the initial dry weight of the pellets was determined by drying three replicate 25g samples in an oven at 130°C to a constant weight. Three additional 25g samples of each feed were placed in separate flasks filled with seawater and shaken for 30 minutes at 200 rpm. After shaking, the pellets were screened by pouring the contents of each flask over a 0.85 mm sieve. Collected feed was rinsed with distilled water and dried to a constant weight at 130°C. The dry weight of recovered pellet material was divided by the initial dry weight and a percentage was calculated.
