The aquamation process uses heated alkaline water under pressure to decompose a body into a skeletal form in under 12 hours. In a grave where the soil is generally alkaline this same process can take up to 20 years.

What is the difference between cremation and alkaline hydrolysis?

Just like flame cremation, fat and tissues are converted to basic organic compounds. In flame cremation these harmless compounds, mainly carbon dioxide and water vapor, are released into the air. In alkaline hydrolysis, the harmless compounds formed include salts and amino acids, and are released with the water.

What are the remains of aquamation?

In the 1960s cremation became an acceptable alternative to burial. Recently a more environmentally friendly way of disposing of a corpse was introduced to South Africa. Alkaline Hydrolysis or aquamation is a chemical process dissolving a dead body. The wastewater can be disposed of in a sewage system.

What happens to the bones after aquamation?

The heat, pressure and solution work together to break down the body, leaving only the bones. The body slowly dissolves, and the bones, once removed from the chamber, crushed into ash and returned to the family just like in a traditional cremation.

Where does the water go after aquamation?

What happens to the water in the Aquamation process? The water is returned to the ecosystem via the normal wastewater treatment facility, just as all funeral homes in the United States, Canada, and many other parts of the world do during the embalming process.

Is aquamation less expensive than cremation?

Although you may be able to pay as little as $800 for a direct cremation, the average cremation cost is still $1,600. The cost of aquamation may be as low as $2,000, but may not reach much higher than $3,000.

Do you have clothes on when you are cremated?

In most cases, people are cremated in either a sheet or the clothing they are wearing upon arrival to the crematory. However, most Direct Cremation providers give you and your family the option to fully dress your loved one prior to Direct Cremation.

Why is alkaline hydrolysis illegal?

A 2010 bill to legalize alkaline hydrolysis in California failed, as reported by the Los Angeles Times, largely due to concerns over lack of data about how the liquid waste it creates might affect aging sewer pipes and employees’ health at crematoria—safety concerns that Fisher says he has addressed after years of

Do bodies sit up when being cremated?

Does the body sit up during cremation? Yes, this can happen. Due to the heat and the muscle tissue, the body can move as the body is broken down, although this does happen inside the coffin, so it won’t be visible.

Is aquamation better than cremation?

Aquamation Is More Environment-Friendly Than Cremation

Crematoriums generate high heat, and it can go upto 1400 and 2100 degrees Fahrenheit, i.e., break down the body’s tissues and decompose it. This process also releases a few harmful emissions into the environment.

How much does an aquamation machine cost?

There are no restrictions on who can buy an aquamation machine, which at Bio-Response are priced from $60,000 (sized to accommodate a single pet) to $200,000 (able to hold bodies weighing 4,000 pounds in total).

Does a body get drained before cremation?

Is a body drained before cremation? Draining a body of fluids does not happen before cremation. If a body is embalmed before cremation, the bodily fluids are exchanged (drained, and then replaced) with chemicals during the embalming process. These chemicals are also fluid.

What is the purpose of aquamation?

According to UK-based firm Resomation, aquamation uses five times less energy than fire, and reduces a funeral’s emissions of greenhouse gases by about 35%. Aquamation is also used to dispose of animal carcasses in slaughterhouses, where it is considered to be more efficient and hygienic.

Is aquamation eco friendly?

For those who want a green funeral, aquamation is an eco-friendly option, championed by green funeral providers as a better alternative to cremation or burial. In fact, aquamation has 1/10 the carbon footprint and uses 85% less energy than fire cremation.

What states aquamation legal?

Aquamation is legal in the state of California. It is legal for pets in all 50 states and Canada. Under California Governor Jerry Brown, bill AB 967 was passed, legalizing aquamation for both pets and people. It allows the use of water-based cremation, also known as alkaline hydrolysis, in California.

Why is aquamation more eco friendly?

The environmental benefits of aquamation include no direct emissions of harmful greenhouse gases or mercury, a saving of over 90% energy compared to flame cremation, very limited burning of fossil fuels and virtually zero impact on water usage.