Tissue Digestion
Encyclopedia
Tissue digestion is a method of disposing bodies. The scientific term is "alkaline hydrolysis". It is used at several universities
for the remains of animal cadavers as well as for human remains. In mortuary usage, the process is called "water reduction" "resomation
" or "aquamation".
and lye
or potassium hydroxide. The solid remains are reduced to 2 to three percent of the original body weight. After the process is completed, only remnants of the bones of a body remain, and these can be ground in one's hand. The remaining protein matter of the body has been dissolved by the lye into a sterile liquid. Two main methods have been introduced for human remains, the main difference is in the temperatures the units operate at; resomation works at 180 degrees C, and aquamation at 93 degrees C.
professor
Gordon Kaye and retired biochemistry
professor Peter Weber in 1992. It was utilised as a method of disposing of animals remains used in disease research.
, since it uses no gas. For disposal of animals, it also destroys prions, which rendering does not reliably do. It also does not cause air pollution
. It is the most environmentally-friendly and sanitary method for disposal of cadavers and remains. End products can be recycled as fertilizer
.
remains has been developed. Use in mortuaries was not a concern of the company until the scandal at the Tri-State Crematory
, which caused the mortuary industry to anticipate a declining public faith in cremation.
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
for the remains of animal cadavers as well as for human remains. In mortuary usage, the process is called "water reduction" "resomation
Resomation
Alkaline hydrolysis is a process for the disposal of human remains, which its creator states is more ecologically favorable than cremation. The process is being marketed worldwide as an alternative to the traditional options of burial or cremation...
" or "aquamation".
Methods
The remains are dissolved in a mixture of heated waterWater
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
and lye
Lye
Lye is a corrosive alkaline substance, commonly sodium hydroxide or historically potassium hydroxide . Previously, lye was among the many different alkalis leached from hardwood ashes...
or potassium hydroxide. The solid remains are reduced to 2 to three percent of the original body weight. After the process is completed, only remnants of the bones of a body remain, and these can be ground in one's hand. The remaining protein matter of the body has been dissolved by the lye into a sterile liquid. Two main methods have been introduced for human remains, the main difference is in the temperatures the units operate at; resomation works at 180 degrees C, and aquamation at 93 degrees C.
Invention
Alkaline hydrolysis was patented in the US by Amos Herbert in 1888. The process was revisited by retired pathologyPathology
Pathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from Ancient Greek , pathos, "feeling, suffering"; and , -logia, "the study of". Pathologization, to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling....
professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
Gordon Kaye and retired biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
professor Peter Weber in 1992. It was utilised as a method of disposing of animals remains used in disease research.
Advantages
For mortuary use, it is ten times cheaper than cremationCremation
Cremation is the process of reducing bodies to basic chemical compounds such as gasses and bone fragments. This is accomplished through high-temperature burning, vaporization and oxidation....
, since it uses no gas. For disposal of animals, it also destroys prions, which rendering does not reliably do. It also does not cause air pollution
Air pollution
Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or cause damage to the natural environment or built environment, into the atmosphere....
. It is the most environmentally-friendly and sanitary method for disposal of cadavers and remains. End products can be recycled as fertilizer
Fertilizer
Fertilizer is any organic or inorganic material of natural or synthetic origin that is added to a soil to supply one or more plant nutrients essential to the growth of plants. A recent assessment found that about 40 to 60% of crop yields are attributable to commercial fertilizer use...
.
Use in Mortuaries
Mortuary use is hindered by the fact that many of the human remains are liquefied and may be put into the sewer. Also, the notion of being dissolved causes some people discomfort. In response to the former, a process of dehydrating the liquid remains so they, with what remains of the bones, can be disposed of as traditional cremationCremation
Cremation is the process of reducing bodies to basic chemical compounds such as gasses and bone fragments. This is accomplished through high-temperature burning, vaporization and oxidation....
remains has been developed. Use in mortuaries was not a concern of the company until the scandal at the Tri-State Crematory
Tri-State Crematory
The Tri-State Crematory located in the Noble community in northwest Georgia, United States, was the subject of a national incident in 2002 leading to litigation and criminal prosecution, in which over three hundred bodies that had been consigned to the crematorium for proper disposal were never...
, which caused the mortuary industry to anticipate a declining public faith in cremation.