London: A UK-based company has developed what it claims is probably the world's best green alternative to cremation -- an "alkaline hydrolysis" unit, which has been installed at a funeral home in the US state of Florida.
The unit by Glasgow-based Resomation Ltd works by dissolving the body in heated alkaline water; it has been installed at Anderson-McQueen funeral home in St Petersburg, the 'BBC' reported.
The makers claim the process produces a third less greenhouse gas than cremation, uses a seventh of the energy, and allows for the complete separation of dental amalgam for safe disposal.
Mercury from amalgam vaporised in crematoria is blamed for airborne mercury emissions.
"Resomation was developed in response to the public's increasing environmental concerns. It gives them that working third choice, which allows them to express those concerns in a very positive and I think personal way," company founder Sandy Sullivan was quoted as saying.
The installation was only made possible after the state legislature in Florida approved the use of the technology.
In fact, the system works by submerging the body in a solution of water and potassium hydroxide which is pressurized to 10 atmosphere and heated to 180C for between two-and-a-half and three hours.
Body tissue is dissolved and the liquid poured into the municipal water system. Tests have proven the effluent is sterile and contains no DNA, and poses no environmental risk.
The bones are then removed from the unit and processed in a "cremulator", the same machine that is used to crush bone fragments following cremation into ash. Metals, including mercury, and artificial joints and implants are recovered.
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