There are three basic types of disposition after someone passes away. Burial, cremation, and aquamation all use different processes, but the end result remains the same. The body must be broken down either by natural elements, or the process can be sped up using fire or alkaline hydrolysis. In the end, bone ash is what remains, whether by burial, cremation, or aquamation services near Wilmington, NC. Aquamation is a process that may not be as well-known as the other two alternatives, but it’s worth learning more about. It’s affordable, gentle, and more environmentally-friendly than any other types of disposition.

Similar to cremation, many families choose to say a final goodbye before the body undergoes the aquamation process. Then, their body is placed in a stainless-steel vessel. This is filled with a solution consisting of 95% water and a 5% alkali solution of potassium hydroxide and sodium. The container is slowly heated to a temperature below boiling, and the water solution circulates. Over time, this process returns the body to its original state of water, leaving only skeletal remains. These remains will be turned into bone ash. With aquamation services, you will typically receive back about 20% more ashes than with cremation.

After the process of aquamation has completed, the chemicals in the alkali solution have been completely used up. This means that when the water exits the stainless-steel vessel, it will be safe to enter the environment. As a result, aquamation services are one of the “greenest” options out there when it comes to body disposition. Traditional burial allows harmful chemicals to enter the earth, takes up land, and uses valuable resources like hard wood and metals. Cremation releases harmful greenhouse gases into the air, such as carbon dioxide. Aquamation does not release any of these harmful gases or chemicals into the environment. If a person has any dental amalgams that contain mercury, these materials are safely collected and properly recycled or disposed of. Any medical devices that were in the body will be taken out before the aquamation process and recycled.

When you receive the bone ashes back, there are many ways to use or store them in a way that honors your loved one’s memory. You can have them buried or interred at a cemetery, keep them in an urn within your home, or scatter them. You can even find biodegradable urns, which can be buried in earth or at sea.

If you have any other questions about the aquamation process, don’t hesitate to ask your provider of aquamation services near Wilmington, NC. They can give you any information you need, especially if you’re looking to learn more about how it all works. If you’re interested in pre-planning for your own final arrangements, or you need to make a plan for a loved one who has passed, they can help you come up with a path forward. Choosing aquamation means that you’re making a better choice for the environment and your budget, and it also means that your loved one will be able to return back to the water that we all originally came from.