Alkaline Hydrolysis
Alkaline Hydrolysis
Alkaline hydrolysis is a method of final disposition that uses water, heat and an alkaline solution to break down the organic components of a person’s body. It is sometimes described as water cremation, aquamation or resomation, although these terms can refer to particular technologies or trade names.
How it works. Instead of using a flame and combustion, alkaline hydrolysis places the person in a sealed vessel containing water and an alkaline solution. Heat and pressure accelerate a process that would otherwise take a very long time naturally, breaking down the body’s organic material.
What remains. The process does not simply dissolve everything. The mineral structure of the bones remains. Once the process is complete, the remaining bone material is dried and processed into a fine material in much the same way that bone fragments are processed after conventional cremation. These processed remains are commonly returned to the family as ashes or cremated remains, although the physical process by which they were produced is different.
Different from cremation. Conventional Cremation uses controlled combustion in a Cremator. Alkaline hydrolysis does not use combustion or a cremator. Instead, the body is processed inside a specialised hydrolysis vessel using water, heat and alkaline chemistry.
The result is similar in some important ways. Although the process is different, the purpose is similar: to provide a permanent form of final disposition and leave the family with processed skeletal remains that can be kept, scattered, buried or otherwise cared for.
It uses water rather than flame. Alkaline hydrolysis is sometimes promoted as a lower-emission alternative to flame-based cremation because there is no combustion of the body. The overall environmental impact depends on the particular equipment, energy source, water use and treatment of the resulting liquid.
The liquid is not simply discharged untreated. The process produces a liquid containing the dissolved organic components of the body and the alkaline solution. Appropriate treatment and disposal of this liquid is an important part of any alkaline hydrolysis system and is subject to the requirements of the jurisdiction in which the process operates.
Queensland. Queensland’s current legislation specifically regulates the cremation of human remains and requires permission before a cremation can take place. The legislation separately defines disposal of human remains, including cremation, burial and other permanent resting places. It does not simply define alkaline hydrolysis as cremation.
This means that while alkaline hydrolysis is an established alternative disposition method in some jurisdictions, its availability and legal status depend on the laws and approvals applying where it is to be carried out.
A different technology for a similar purpose. Alkaline hydrolysis is therefore best understood as another way of caring for and reducing human remains after death, rather than simply as a different type of cremator.