Alkaline Hydrolysis – Water Cremation
When we die the decision of what we would like done with our body has always come down to a choice between traditional burial and cremation. Our personal feelings about God (religion), Earth (burial) and Fire (cremation) have always been the main elements of death and how the body is laid to rest for eternity.
Two main factors in the decision between burial and cremation are based on religious beliefs, or financial reasons, evoking strong emotional opinions for either burial or cremation.
Now there is a brand new method for treating the body after death, it is commonly being referred to as “water cremation” but more technically (and scientifically) termed alkaline hydrolysis, a process adding more fuel to the fire, or debate, about cremation and burial choices.
Earth, Fire or Water?
Cremation has become notably accepted by many religious denominations over the last decade and is even now considered the ecologically the most responsible choice. In addition to environmental reasons, being buried in a cemetery, depending on where you reside or wish to be buried, there is a lack of burial room all around the globe, making the difficult choice even more complex.
So what is alkaline hydrolysis or water cremation and how is it different than cremation? The result of alkaline hydrolysis or the remains after the process is complete are very similar, the remains are able to be either stored (such as in a memorial urn) or scattered (spread) just as with cremated ashes.
Proper permits are always required for spreading or scattering of remains of course. While on the topic of legality, alkaline hydrolysis is actually only legal in two states (US), Minnesota and New Hampshire. Thus far it has been legally banned in other states for being “undignified” for application to human bodies.
The debate about alkaline hydrolysis has just begun. While the process is considered ‘new’ for an alternative to choice, it has been used historically on the “mass disposal of animal carcasses”, according to an article on the ABC News website. The process is considered environmentally sound for the disposal of dead bodies and it is currently used for medical research-currently in (only) two medical facilities in the US.
While alkaline hydrolysis is still not an available choice (yet) it is predicted to become one and is even considered to be even better for the environment than cremation based on the elimination of toxic emissions generated by crematoriums (carbon dioxide and even small amounts of mercury).
New Hampshire State Representative Barbara French was quoted as being open to the process, “It doesn’t bother me any more than being burned up,” she reflected about the controversial process, “Cremation you’re burned up. I’ve thought about it, but I’m dead.”
The Process of Alkaline Hydrolysis
Down to the nitty gritty or the bare bones of the matter, if you’re wondering here’s how the process of alkaline hydrolysis is performed. The acid lye is used along with high heat (300 degrees) and immense pressure in a chamber (60 psi), the chambers are cylindrical and made of stainless steel. The result of the treatment to human remains is two fold 1.) waste liquid (inert) that is discarded and 2.) bone fragments siniliar in volume (perhaps slightly more) to that of cremated remains
The alkaline hydrolysis or water cremated remains could be treated in the same way as cremated ashes or cremains, stored or displayed in a commemorative urn, buried or even buried at sea. Perhaps water cremation is true way to return our bodies to the “salt of the earth”?
