Alkaline Hydrolysis i.e. Aquamation
Alkaline Hydrolysis i.e. Aquamation
Thank you to AquamationBC Coalition for this informative article on Alkaline Hydrolysis. This article re-posted from January 2023.
As a member of the Memorial Society, you are likely someone who has already given some thought to your own final disposition. ‘Disposition’ is just a fancy way of saying legally caring for a dead body. Here in British Columbia, we have two choices when it comes to disposition: cremation or burial. When one chooses burial, they can choose conventional burial, which typically involves embalming, a casket and/or grave liner, or green burial, which excludes embalming and has a much smaller impact on the environment.
Did you know that it’s actually possible to choose a ‘green cremation?’ There’s one catch…you can’t choose it here in British Columbia yet. Read on to learn all about Alkaline hydrolysis, an alternative form of cremation that creates 95% less carbon emissions than conventional flame cremation.
What is Alkaline Hydrolysis?
Alkaline hydrolysis (also known as Resomation, Water Cremation, Bio Cremation, and Aquamation) is an alternative form of cremation that uses water and potassium hydroxide (an inorganic compound with a KOH formula – did you know potassium hydroxide is one of the most important micronutrients for plant life?) This is not an acid, but rather the opposite, an alkali.
What’s the process of alkaline hydrolysis?
Alkaline hydrolysis takes place in a large stainless-steel vessel. The body is gently placed within the vessel, and warm water with an alkali mixture swirls around the body for several hours. Once the process is completed, any inorganic material, such as medical implants or dental metals, are removed. The bones are then processed into what we typically call ashes or cremains and returned to the family in an urn or container of their choosing, just like a regular fire cremation. Alkaline hydrolysis is a very gentle process, returning about 20% more bone than you would receive after a flame cremation. You can do the same memorials whether alkaline hydrolysis was used, or fire cremation, such as: inter, bury, scatter, turn into jewelry or pottery glaze, or press into a vinyl record.
What happens to the water that is used in the alkaline hydrolysis process?
One of the reasons that alkaline hydrolysis is considered green is that it uses far less energy than flame cremation. Once the process is completed, the by-product is roughly the colour of a weak tea and contains no DNA or RNA. This by-product is treated the same way as any other by-product within a municipal water treatment facility. Flame cremation also produces a by-product, which emits toxins into our atmosphere via the chimney stacks.
Where is it legal and is it legal in Canada?
You may have read that Desmond Tutu chose alkaline hydrolysis for himself. The process is legal just about everywhere in the USA, portions of Europe, the Caribbean, South America, Australia and New Zealand. A very well respected and sought-after disposition option.
In Canada, it is legal in Newfoundland & Labrador, Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan & Northwest Territories.
Since 2012, the AquamationBC Coalition has been meeting with Consumer Protection BC, as they regulate the cemetery and funeral services in the province, known as the Cremation, Interment and Funeral Services Act, in the hopes of amending said act. Their work continues.
How much does it cost?
Cremation of any sort varies in price. In British Columbia, you can pay between $1000 -$6500 for a conventional flame-based cremation. Where it has been legalized, most providers charge roughly the same for alkaline hydrolysis as they do for a flame cremation.
Where can I learn more?
AquamationBC Coaltion has put together terrific resources on their website: https://www.aquamationbc.ca/