Alkaline Hydrolysis Simplified.
We get asked if we can use remains with our Cremation Inks ® that have been through the process of Alkaline Hydrolysis and the simple answer is yes, we work with clients loved ones remain that have been through the process, every week. But what is 'AH' and whats does it entail?
Alkaline hydrolysis, sometimes referred to as hydrochloric acid hydrolysis, hydrofluorocarbons, alkaline acidification or hydrothermal acidification, is a
process used to dissolve organic remains in a solution of water, water vapor and a mixture of hydrocarbons.
This process mimics the natural decay process of the body and after the process is completed, only the bone fragments remain, which are then crushed into a fine white powder.
The bone powder produced by can be scattered, buried in some way or disposed of in a similar way to ashes during cremation, for example by burial.
A liquid by-product of alkaline hydrolysis is a mixture of water and steam that can be disposed of in the local sewer system. Alkaline hydrolysis is a method of final disposition available for humans, pets and relatives. This low energy impact and return to nature in a more passive way for the deceased, is why the process is slowly gathering pace and is becoming a service of choice, especially with pet owners.
That being said, the process is now becoming more main stream and availabe for humans, mirroring, for some, the enviromental wishes of their lost loved one.
Alkaline Hydrolysis For your Loved one?
After three hours, the process is completed and the machine is opened to discover liquid remains that no longer have DNA and liquid remains that are safe for standard disposal. The cost of alkaline hydrolysis will be the same for consumers as for traditional cremation. There is a need for a larger urn or container of the end produced power, due to the 100% catchment of all the beloveds remains. On this basis a 20% bigger urn is required.
This new alternative is ideal for people who do not want to be buried but are uncomfortable with cremation. Advocates say that this method, sometimes called aquamation or flameless cremation, is a gentler process than incineration and is better for the environment than cremation.
Water cremations have proven to be less harmful to the environment, not only because it does not use fossil fuels, but also because it uses water, which can be considered an important resource.
Alkaline hydrolysis has a component that cremation lacks: it has the potential to dissolve tissues and organs of the body into a syrupy liquid that is treated like wastewater. One way to think about it is that it speeds up the ordinary decay process by using less water and less carbon dioxide than combustion, but in reality most of a body is liquefied and goes back into the water course.
Unlike with ordinary cremation, after alkaline hydrolysis, only the bones are left, which are ground before the ashes are placed in an urn.
Alklaline Hydrolysis Near Me
The alkaline hydrolysis process has existed since 1888, but surprisingly not many people have heard of it, and even less understand how it works. CANA defined it in 2010 as a water-based dissolution process that uses "alkaline chemicals, heat, vibrations, and pressure" to accelerate natural decomposition, reducing human remains to bone fragments, as well as the flame-based equivalent.
It does this in a much more efficient way than solving other decomposition processes, such as water-based cremation. Although the procedure can be used for both humans and pets, it is more common in dogs and cats than in humans, although it is now becoming commonly availabe for people too.
A brief look around the internet, using related words such a Aquamation, water cremations and resomation, should easily find you a provider of this treatment for your loved one. After speaking to various places around the globe that provide this service, many of them commented that they found that people who have been given a terminal diagnosis, or have the forsight before death to plan the way they want to leave this earth, are the ones mostly committing to the service.
When returning back to nature, some people prefer the concept of a light enviromental footprint for the disposal of their remains. With this basis and an ever growing population, the increase in this remarkable and passive form of treatment for the deceased will just keep expanding every year.
Conclusion on Alkaline Hydrolysis
Here at Cremation Ink ®, where we infuse your loved ones remains into tattoo ink, for you to go to your local tattoo studio to get a memorial tattoo, we have noticed over the past couple of years a much larger volume of remains that have been through the alakine hydrolysis process. The clear visual difference is the visual purity to the remains.
The standard cremation remains have a grey bespeckled look to them and the Aquamation remains have an overall cream - white, consitent look to them. When we are using our processes to make your infused tattoo ink, they are handled and treated the same, as they are the exactly the same as cremation ashes, the remains of your loved one.
Search our site to find out more about the Cremation Ink ® process and what we offer, or feel free to look below and read more on the fascinating Alkaline Hydrolysis.