Hydrolysis

As with flame-based cremation, it is the inorganic remains of the body (the calcium phosphate of the bones) that remain at the end of the process. These remains are placed into a temporary container before being returned to the family. If the family is choosing a burial or a scattering of remains, this temporary container is perfectly sufficient for those needs. Should the family wish to keep the remains at home or for a longer term, then an urn may be a preferred option.

No. Unlike flame cremation, a box or casket is not used. These materials will not break down in the hydrolysis process, nor will clothing unless it is protein-based (silk, wool, or leather). If required, the body will be placed in a respectful bio-bag, made of a special material that safely biodegrades in the process. There are also beautiful silk and or wool shrouds the family can choose for this process that are similar in appearance to those used for natural burial.

The hydrolysis process is performed after any viewing or services the family wishes to have. When it’s time for the process, the individual body is respectfully placed in a stainless steel vessel. Alkali is added to the process based on individual characteristics (weight, sex, embalming status), and the vessel fills with water. The solution of 95% water and 5% alkali is heated to 200-300°F, and gently circulated for the entire length of the process.

At the end of the process, all material is broken down to the smallest building blocks; there is no DNA or RNA remaining. The sterile process water is released for recycling (our bodies are approximately 65% water to begin with), and the vessel performs a fresh water rinse for the equipment and remains. When the operator opens the door, only the inorganic bone minerals remain. These minerals are processed into powder and returned to the family in the temporary container or urn. This final processing step is the same process that is followed with flame cremation. Many families hold a celebration of life or gathering when the loved one’s remains are returned to the family’s care.

Yes, the ash remains are 100% safe to handle. Alkaline hydrolysis is a proven sterilization process that results in pathogen and disease free remains.

Absolutely anything that can be done with flame cremation ashes can be done with hydrolysis ashes. Some families bury the urn in a cemetery, or permanently inter the urn in a columbarium. There are numerous memorial products that can be made with the ashes – hand blown glass memorials, ceramic art pieces, man-made diamonds, memorial plantings for your garden, and many more. Many families choose to scatter some or all of the remains in a special place. In Canada, it is perfectly legal to scatter cremated remains on Crown land or water (provided there is no sign prohibiting a scattering at that location) or on private property with the owner’s permission.

Very low. The hydrolysis process uses less water than a single household uses in one day (source: watr.usgs.gov). This includes all of the water used for the process, along with the clean water rinsing of the final remains and vessel.

The water is returned to the ecosystem via the normal wastewater treatment facility, just as all funeral homes in Canada, the United States and many other parts of the world do during the embalming process. The hydrolysis process produces a completely sterile solution of amino acids, sugars, nutrients, salts, and soap in a water solution. These are the byproducts of natural decomposition.

Medical implants are not destroyed in this process. The metals are clean, sterilized, and look brand new after the process. These metals are recycled through a metal refiner to be made into new materials. The metal refineries are amazed at the pristine condition of metals from alkaline hydrolysis versus flame cremation.

A commonly misunderstood fact is that it is actually the water that performs the breakdown during the hydrolysis process, not the alkali.

A hydrolysis reaction is any type of reaction where bonds are cleaved by the insertion of water molecules. With alkaline hydrolysis, a base is added to water to create an alkaline environment. This changes the behavior of the water molecules, causing them to dissociate into hydrogen and hydroxide ions. The solution is only 5% alkali; 95% is water. Equally important to the process are the physical characteristics of the system (design), the continuous flow of the solution, and the heat. This all relates to collision theory and the rate and completeness of a reaction.

Our bodies are 65% water to begin with, along with fat, protein, minerals, and carbohydrates. During the process, fats are reduced to salts, protein to amino acids and small peptides (which are groups of a few amino acids) and carbohydrates are reduced to sugars. The process breaks down all organic materials into their most basic building blocks, so small that no trace of protein or nucleic acids (DNA/RNA) remain. The organics are dissolved into the water, which consists of 96% water and 4% amino acids, sugars, and salts by weight.