Aquamation Process: How Alkaline Hydrolysis Works Step by Step

Before the Cycle Begins

The funeral director verifies the identity of the deceased using a non-combustible stainless steel tracking tag that stays with the body through the entire process. This tag is the chain-of-custody mechanism — it survives the alkaline solution and is checked again when the remains are processed.

The body is undressed and prepared according to strict material requirements. Natural animal-protein fibers like silk and wool dissolve completely during the cycle. Cotton and linen leave fibrous residue on the bone tray. Synthetic fabrics — polyester, nylon, spandex — do not dissolve at all and can clog the filtration system. Most facilities use a certified biodegradable bio-bag made from starch or protein polymers that breaks down fully in the solution.

Inside the Vessel

The body is placed in a stainless steel pressure vessel and submerged in a solution of approximately 95% water and 5% alkali, typically potassium hydroxide (KOH) or sodium hydroxide (NaOH).

Two system types exist:

High-temperature, high-pressure systems heat the solution to 300°F to 320°F under pressure. The cycle takes four to six hours. These are more common in commercial operations.

Low-temperature, atmospheric systems operate at 200°F to 208°F without added pressure. The cycle takes twelve to sixteen hours. These are often used in pet aquamation and some funeral homes that prefer a gentler operational profile.

In both cases, the heated alkaline solution accelerates the same natural decomposition process that would occur in soil over months or years. Soft tissue — muscle, fat, organs — dissolves into the liquid. What remains on the bone tray is the intact mineral skeleton.

What Happens to Implants

Medical implants behave very differently in aquamation than in flame cremation. Because the operating temperature stays well below 400°F, pacemaker and defibrillator batteries do not combust. Titanium joints, cobalt-chromium plates, and surgical steel hardware are completely unaffected by the alkaline solution and come out pristine. Dental amalgams containing mercury stay stable because the solution never approaches mercury's vaporization point of 674°F.

All recovered implants are removed from the bone tray after the cycle and either returned to the family or sent for recycling, depending on the family's preference and the provider's protocol.

After the Cycle: Drying and Processing

When the chemical process is complete, the bone fragments are saturated with moisture. They are transferred to a heated drying cabinet where they remain for 24 to 48 hours until completely dry.

Once dry, the fragments go through a cremulator — the same mechanical pulverizer used in flame cremation — which reduces them to a uniform, sand-like powder. The result is whiter and finer than flame cremation ashes because the bones were never burned or oxidized by fire.

The remains are placed in a temporary container and returned to the family, typically within six to ten days of the death.

The Liquid Byproduct

The dissolved soft tissue becomes a sterile liquid called hydrolysate — a solution of amino acids, small peptides, sugars, mineral salts, and dissolved human tissue. It contains no DNA or pathogens. This effluent is discharged into the municipal wastewater system, where it is treated under the requirements that apply in the jurisdiction.

This is the part of aquamation that draws the most emotional resistance. The reality is that the liquid is chemically mundane, but the concept is viscerally difficult for grieving families. If this concerns you, ask your provider to walk you through their discharge process so you can form your own assessment rather than relying on the charged language that often circulates online.

Our Aquamation Coordination Guide includes a detailed provider question list covering discharge protocols, drying verification, and chain-of-custody procedures — the specific questions that separate a careful operator from a negligent one.