Apparently, cremation devices uses lots of energy and releases a fair amount of carbon emissions, thus a new alternative to cremation is introduced (known as Resomator).
Description on how the device works is as follows:
"Created by a Glaswegian company, the Resomator submerges bodies in a potassium hydroxide solution in its steel chamber, then pressurizes (to about ten atmospheres) and heats (to over 350 degrees F) the solution for about three hours. After that, the resulting liquid is simply poured into the regular sewage system--it apparently poses no environmental risk and has passed Florida's undoubtedly strict laws for this sort of bio-disposal. Bones remain and are pulverized to ash in the usual way, and any metal bits (including mercury and any prostheses) are retained to be disposed of or recycled in a more responsible way."
I find this intriguing that it takes a huge pressure and temperature for human flesh to be "dissolved" in the solvent. I'm imagining that our muscle and skin ends in a flaky/ liquid-like state(the complement one makes after eating a freshly sliced salmon fillet) and easily detached like when a chicken is cooked/boiled. Disgusting, but I'm sure there are lots of things to discuss about with this topic.
Thoughts?
Source:
http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2011-08/florida-funeral-home-debuts-alternative-cremation-liquefaction
Description on how the device works is as follows:
"Created by a Glaswegian company, the Resomator submerges bodies in a potassium hydroxide solution in its steel chamber, then pressurizes (to about ten atmospheres) and heats (to over 350 degrees F) the solution for about three hours. After that, the resulting liquid is simply poured into the regular sewage system--it apparently poses no environmental risk and has passed Florida's undoubtedly strict laws for this sort of bio-disposal. Bones remain and are pulverized to ash in the usual way, and any metal bits (including mercury and any prostheses) are retained to be disposed of or recycled in a more responsible way."
I find this intriguing that it takes a huge pressure and temperature for human flesh to be "dissolved" in the solvent. I'm imagining that our muscle and skin ends in a flaky/ liquid-like state(the complement one makes after eating a freshly sliced salmon fillet) and easily detached like when a chicken is cooked/boiled. Disgusting, but I'm sure there are lots of things to discuss about with this topic.
Thoughts?
Source:
http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2011-08/florida-funeral-home-debuts-alternative-cremation-liquefaction
Intriguing. I've always been curious as to what happens when cemeteries reach their full capacity. Will there ever come a time when we simply won't have the space to bury the dead? I read something quite a while ago about pressing human remains into diamonds. The ashes are pressed into chemically pure diamonds. Check it out: http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,359567,00.html
ReplyDeleteHmmmm.. that's actually disgusting. I'm usually not squeemish, but I'd rather end up as a museum specimen than poured out down the sewers!
ReplyDeleteOn a more scientific note, surely the nutrient content in this fluid would be quite large (?). If this is the case, wouldn't pouring lots of liquefied humans into the ocean potentially trigger algal blooms and all other manner of marine nasties?