ALKALINE HYDROLYSIS: GREEN CREMATION
Like cremation, alkaline hydrolysis -- also known as green cremation -- is a method of preparing a dead human body for its final disposition. And like cremation, it's a process that reduces human remains to bone fragments. But instead of flame, alkaline hydrolysis uses water and an alkali solution of potassium hydroxide (KOH) commonly found in household products, which when heated, dissolves the body, leaving behind bone fragments and a sterile liquid. Alkaline hydrolysis is the natural process a body undergoes after burial, which can take up to 25 years. Green cremation essentially accelerates this natural process to 2-3 hours in a very quiet, controlled environment.
The process
The dead human body is placed in a pressurized stainless steel chamber where water (95%) and alkali (5%) are added and the temperature raised to 350 degrees. Water, alkali, heat and pressure circulate over the body to cause a reaction that hastens the decomposition of soft tissues. (Translation: it completely dissolves everything -- flesh, organs -- except bone fragments.) The resulting sterile solution is drained from the pressurized chamber, leaving behind soft bone fragments. The sterile solution is recycled through the waste water treatment system. The process typically takes 2-3 hours, similar to cremation.
A green alternative to cremation
Green cremation is a much more eco-friendly process. Compared to cremation, alkaline hydrolysis offers:
What's in a name?
Alkaline hydrolysis FAQS
Is it available in Minnesota?
Yes. Minnesota is one of the few states where alkaline hydrolysis is available to the public. Bradshaw Funeral and Cremation Services was the first in Minnesota to offer alkaline hydrolysis -- green cremation -- at its Stillwater Celebration of Life Center.
LaCanne Family Funeral Service in Windom, Minn. is the second funeral and cremation service in the state to offer what they call Aqua-Green Cremation. The process at LaCanne takes 7-8 hours.
Is it more expensive?
Bradshaw's basic green cremation (no on-site ceremony) is $2,295, three times the lowest direct cremation price in the Twin Cities Metro area but less expensive than some funeral homes charge for flame cremation. LaCanne in Windom charges $3,425 for basic Aqua-Green Cremation -- that's cremation without any additional services.
Some observers predict the price will come down as other funeral homes offer alkaline hydrolysis. However, the high cost of the resomator, the stainless steel pressurized chamber used for alkaline hydrolysis, means it's unlikely many funeral homes will be adding this option to their General Price Lists.
* Mayo Clinic in Rochester uses alkaline hydrolysis - they call it bio cremation - for final disposition after completing studies on a donated body.)
What are the casket and clothing options?
Since the alkaline hydrolysis process can only dissolve protein based material, unlike cremation, it cannot accommodate either a wood casket or an alternative container. Only silk, leather or wool can be used to clothe or wrap the body. Bradshaw Funeral and Cremation Services uses a bio-plastic sheet to cover the body before placing it in the chamber.
What are the ashes like?
The result is bone ash, but the ash is whiter than flame cremation, and of a finer consistency, almost like flour. Green cremation preserves 20+% more bone fragments than flame cremation. In choosing green cremation, you'll need to make sure the container (urn or otherwise) you use is large enough to hold the additional amount of ash.
The process sounds kind of yucky, doesn't it?
Yucky? Think about the process of old-fashioned cremation. A dead human body is subjected to intense heat and fire at a temperature of between 1600-1800 degrees F., incinerating everything -- skin, flesh, organs -- except bone fragments. Cremation is just another word for incineration.
Yucky? Think about the embalming process. Yes, invasive things happen to your body when you undergo major surgery, or complicated treatments for diseases. But if the doctor hasn't explained it all beforehand, you can ask, and he/she will tell you, or draw you a picture. Literally. A funeral planning session during which you've chosen embalming for your dead relative usually doesn't involve a description of all that's about to occur in the funeral home embalming and preparation room. They will definitely not draw you a picture.
The option with the lowest yuck factor, hands down, is green -- natural -- burial. Of course there's that whole, "The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out, the ants play Pinochle on your snout" thing. At least with green burial, the decomposition process happens naturally. Not so an embalmed body encased in a casket which is then enclosed in a grave liner or vault. Most people don't like to think what that might look like after a few years underground. "Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust?" Ask yourself how long it will take for a metal casket and the concrete burial vault its encased in to decompose down to the earth-ashes-dust stage.
Important Note: If you choose alkaline hydrolysis there are three more steps you'll want to consider. Visit our cremation page for the following:
Like cremation, alkaline hydrolysis -- also known as green cremation -- is a method of preparing a dead human body for its final disposition. And like cremation, it's a process that reduces human remains to bone fragments. But instead of flame, alkaline hydrolysis uses water and an alkali solution of potassium hydroxide (KOH) commonly found in household products, which when heated, dissolves the body, leaving behind bone fragments and a sterile liquid. Alkaline hydrolysis is the natural process a body undergoes after burial, which can take up to 25 years. Green cremation essentially accelerates this natural process to 2-3 hours in a very quiet, controlled environment.
The process
The dead human body is placed in a pressurized stainless steel chamber where water (95%) and alkali (5%) are added and the temperature raised to 350 degrees. Water, alkali, heat and pressure circulate over the body to cause a reaction that hastens the decomposition of soft tissues. (Translation: it completely dissolves everything -- flesh, organs -- except bone fragments.) The resulting sterile solution is drained from the pressurized chamber, leaving behind soft bone fragments. The sterile solution is recycled through the waste water treatment system. The process typically takes 2-3 hours, similar to cremation.
A green alternative to cremation
Green cremation is a much more eco-friendly process. Compared to cremation, alkaline hydrolysis offers:
- More than 75% reduction of carbon footprint
- Uses 1/8 the amount of energy of flame-based cremation
- Pacemakers and some other medical devices do not need to be removed prior to the process as with flame-based cremation
- Mercury from dental amalgam is contained and recycled, not vaporized
- Preserves 20+% more bone fragments than flame cremation
What's in a name?
Alkaline hydrolysis FAQS
Is it available in Minnesota?
Yes. Minnesota is one of the few states where alkaline hydrolysis is available to the public. Bradshaw Funeral and Cremation Services was the first in Minnesota to offer alkaline hydrolysis -- green cremation -- at its Stillwater Celebration of Life Center.
LaCanne Family Funeral Service in Windom, Minn. is the second funeral and cremation service in the state to offer what they call Aqua-Green Cremation. The process at LaCanne takes 7-8 hours.
Is it more expensive?
Bradshaw's basic green cremation (no on-site ceremony) is $2,295, three times the lowest direct cremation price in the Twin Cities Metro area but less expensive than some funeral homes charge for flame cremation. LaCanne in Windom charges $3,425 for basic Aqua-Green Cremation -- that's cremation without any additional services.
Some observers predict the price will come down as other funeral homes offer alkaline hydrolysis. However, the high cost of the resomator, the stainless steel pressurized chamber used for alkaline hydrolysis, means it's unlikely many funeral homes will be adding this option to their General Price Lists.
* Mayo Clinic in Rochester uses alkaline hydrolysis - they call it bio cremation - for final disposition after completing studies on a donated body.)
What are the casket and clothing options?
Since the alkaline hydrolysis process can only dissolve protein based material, unlike cremation, it cannot accommodate either a wood casket or an alternative container. Only silk, leather or wool can be used to clothe or wrap the body. Bradshaw Funeral and Cremation Services uses a bio-plastic sheet to cover the body before placing it in the chamber.
What are the ashes like?
The result is bone ash, but the ash is whiter than flame cremation, and of a finer consistency, almost like flour. Green cremation preserves 20+% more bone fragments than flame cremation. In choosing green cremation, you'll need to make sure the container (urn or otherwise) you use is large enough to hold the additional amount of ash.
The process sounds kind of yucky, doesn't it?
Yucky? Think about the process of old-fashioned cremation. A dead human body is subjected to intense heat and fire at a temperature of between 1600-1800 degrees F., incinerating everything -- skin, flesh, organs -- except bone fragments. Cremation is just another word for incineration.
Yucky? Think about the embalming process. Yes, invasive things happen to your body when you undergo major surgery, or complicated treatments for diseases. But if the doctor hasn't explained it all beforehand, you can ask, and he/she will tell you, or draw you a picture. Literally. A funeral planning session during which you've chosen embalming for your dead relative usually doesn't involve a description of all that's about to occur in the funeral home embalming and preparation room. They will definitely not draw you a picture.
The option with the lowest yuck factor, hands down, is green -- natural -- burial. Of course there's that whole, "The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out, the ants play Pinochle on your snout" thing. At least with green burial, the decomposition process happens naturally. Not so an embalmed body encased in a casket which is then enclosed in a grave liner or vault. Most people don't like to think what that might look like after a few years underground. "Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust?" Ask yourself how long it will take for a metal casket and the concrete burial vault its encased in to decompose down to the earth-ashes-dust stage.
Important Note: If you choose alkaline hydrolysis there are three more steps you'll want to consider. Visit our cremation page for the following:
- Options before or after cremation
- Final disposition of cremated remains
- Memorialization