Published on 9 June 2025 by pgibertie
Composting or dissolution of bodies: new burial methods
While in France only burial and cremation are authorized, other, sometimes more ecological processes, such as aquamation and promission, already exist in other countries.
It all begins with the preparation of the body, which is placed in a chamber specially designed for aquamation, often in a biodegradable container. Next, the chamber is filled with an alkaline aqueous solution, usually potassium hydroxide (KOH) or sodium hydroxide (NaOH), with a high pH similar to that of household cleaning products.
Once the body is immersed, the temperature in the chamber is raised, usually to between 93 and 98 degrees Celsius, combining heat and alkaline solution to speed up the decomposition process. Some aquamation systems include mechanical or hydraulic agitation to promote even an accelerated dissolution of the body. This process, which lasts a few hours, depends on factors such as the size of the body and the type of equipment used.
At the end of the process, all that remains is a liquid called “effluent”, which is a solution containing mineral elements from the bones, alkalis and water. The residual bones, reduced to a white powder, are recovered and given to the family of the deceased. Finally, once the effluent has been treated in accordance with environmental standards, it can be discharged in an environmentally-friendly manner into the sewage system or used as fertiliser.
Recovery of water and minerals: The residual liquid can be treated in an environmentally safe way. What’s more, some aquamation systems even allow the recovery of water and minerals from the process for reuse or responsible disposal.
