EMBALMING I
CHAPTER 6- EMBALMING CHEMICALS
CHEMICAL GROUPS IN
EMBALMING FLUIDS
There are 8 groups of chemicals used to compose the various
embalming fluids, they are:
1. PRESERVATIVES
2. GERMICIDES
3. MODIFYING AGENTS
INCLUDING BUFFERS, HUMECTANTS, WATER
CONDITIONERS, AND INORGANIC SALTS.
CHEMICAL GROUPS IN
EMBALMING FLUIDS
4. ANTICOAGULANTS
5. SURFACTANTS
6. DYES
7. PERFUMING AGENTS
8. VEHICLES
EMBALMING FLUIDS
The 8 groups of embalming chemicals are combined to make 7
main embalming fluids and accessory and supplemental
chemicals.
1. Preservative arterial fluids
2. Pre-injection (primary injection) fluids
EMBALMING FLUIDS
3. Co-injection fluids
Including anti-dehydrant chemicals, water-corrective chemicals,
restorative chemicals.
4. Cavity Fluids
5. Arterial Fluids Dyes
6. Autopsy Gels
7. Cautery Agents
DISADVANTAGES TO USING
FORMALDEHYDE
1. It rapidly coagulates the blood.
2. It converts the tissues to a gray hue when it
mixes with blood not removed from the body.
(Also termed “formaldehyde gray”.)
3. It fixes discolorations.
4. It dehydrates the tissues.
DISADVANTAGES TO USING
FORMALDEHYDE
5. It constricts the capillaries.
6. It deteriorates with age.
7. It can be oxidized to formic acid.
8. It can be decomposed to alcohol and formic acid
in a strong alkaline pH.
ADVANTAGES TO USING
FORMALDEHYDE
1. It is inexpensive.
2. It inhibits the growth of yeasts and molds.
3. It can rapidly destroy autolytic
enzymes.
4. It rapidly acts on the body proteins and converts them to
insoluble resins that stop body decomposition.
ADVANTAGES TO USING
FORMALDEHYDE
5. Only a small percentage of formaldehyde is needed to
act on a large amount of protein.
6. It produces rapid fixation which aids in
positioning the dead human body and also
indicates that preservation is taking place.
7. It deodorizes the body amines formed during
putrefaction.
ESTABLISHMENT OF MINIMUM
STANDARDS
• Around 1906 was when formaldehyde became a widely used
ingredient in embalming fluid.
• In the early years they sold it with the water already added in
half-gallon jugs.
• The formaldehyde was so strong that pre-injection and coinjection fluids were developed so offset the HCHO.
ESTABLISHMENT OF MINIMUM
STANDARDS
• Embalming fluid is the concentrated chemical
composition sold by the manufacturer.
• Primary dilution is the “in-use” solution of embalming
chemicals formed when the concentrated embalming fluid is
diluted in the tank of the embalming machine with water.
GENERAL CHEMICAL PRINCIPLES
OF EMBALMING FLUIDS
• Among the main chemicals common to almost all preservative
solutions are HCHO and methyl alcohol.
What varies is:
• the pH of the solution
• type of buffer materials used to maintain pH
• grade of formalin used
GENERAL CHEMICAL PRINCIPLES
OF EMBALMING FLUIDS
• type of alcohol
• wetting agents
• anitclotting agents
• modifers
• physical features such as specific gravity and surface tension.
The chemicals from different companies produce different
results with different cases.
SUMMARY OF CHEMICAL
COMPONENTS
• Preservatives
• Germicides
• Anticoagulants
• Perfuming Materials
• Surfactants
• Dyes
• Modifying Agents
• Vehicles
PRESERVATIVES
• Purpose- Preservatives are the agents in the embalming fluid
that cause the proteins to change in nature.
Types
• Formalin- It is the liquid form of HCHO. It contains methyl
alcohol which helps stabilize the HCHO so that it won’t settle to
the bottom and become paraformaldehyde.
PRESERVATIVES
• Paraformaldehyde- is a white powdery form of
formaldehyde used in hardening compounds.
• The word index refers to the amount of formaldehyde gas
present. It is NOT a total measure of the total aldehyde
concentration present.
• Formaldehyde- is a colorless gas with a pungent odor.
• It is very soluble in water.
PRESERVATIVES
• It is extremely reactive.
• It is a very powerful germicide.
• It acts quickly on the area it comes in contact with.
• Trioxane- is a polymer of HCHO. It is colorless and has a better
odor. It is very expensive to use so it is not used extensively.
PRESERVATIVES
• Other Aldehydes Include: Acetaldehyde, and Pyrivic Aldehyde.
• The important requirement of aldehydes is that is possess
denaturing and crosslinking properties that enable it to
produce firming effect on tissue.
• Condensation Products-(AKA: HCHO donor compound,
HCHO Reaction Products).
• They exhibit an acid pH and need the alkali catalyst
to release the HCHO.
PRESERVATIVES
• The disadvantage to the condensation products is that
they have a slow reaction rate and are very expensive.
• Dialdehydes- two aldehyde groups in the molecule.
• Glyoxal- tend to stain tissue yellow. It is used primarily in cavity
fluid especially because its optimal pH range of activity is about
9 to 10.
• Glutaradlehyde- Has a mild odor and a light color. It is a liquid.
PRESERVATIVES
• It is capable of reacting with protein structures over a
wide pH range.
• It is a more effective disinfectant than HCHO.
• Methanol (Methyl Alcohol)-Excellent preservative that destroys
many organisms.
• A good solvent for other chemicals not readily soluble
in water alone.
• Penetrates the tissue well and can show some bleaching action.
PRESERVATIVES
• Is a stabilizer of HCHO. (Prevents it from changing to paraHCHO.)
• Serves as a vehicle for other ingredients of the formulation.
• It is more toxic to bacteria than grain alcohol.
• Phenol (Carbolic Acid)- Mostly used in cavity fluid.
• A coal-tar derivative that is a colorless crystalline solid.
PRESERVATIVES
• It is a good germicide.
• Over use of it causes “putty gray” tissues.
• Phenols are not water soluble.
• Quaternary Ammonium Compounds-Used for their germicidal and
deodorizing qualities.
• Used mostly in cavity fluid.
PRESERVATIVES
• When used- preservatives will be used on every case regardless
of the condition of the body.
• Regardless of the conditions of the tissue and the body you
will always use a type of preservative to “Preserve The
Tissue.”
• Please remember this one bit of information!!!!
GERMICIDES
Purpose- To kill microorganisms or to render them inactive.
Types:
• Phenol
• Glutaraldehyde
When to use:
In arterial, some coinjection, and cavity fluids, and surface
disinfectants.
MODIFYING AGENTS
Purpose- They control the rate of action of the main preservative
ingredients of embalming formulations.
Types:
Buffers- agents that serve to control the acid-base
balance of fluid and tissues.
• Can act as water conditioners and anticoagulants.
MODIFYING AGENTS
What condition would buffers be important for?
Humectants- Agents that help to control tissue moisture balance.
Glycerin- is synthetically from petroleum products.
• Glycerin also increases the germ-killing power of other
chemicals. (because it makes them stick better)
MODIFYING AGENTS
Inorganic Salts- act as buffers, anticoagulants, preservatives,
germicides, and water conditioners.
• They have the ability to control osmotic qualities.
• Under what circumstances would we use inorganic salts?
MODIFYING AGENTS
Water Conditioners- Known as water softeners or water conditioner.
Serves 4 purposes:
• Aid to improve drainage by keeping blood in a liquid state.
• Make is possible for the arterial fluid to function under better
conditions.
• Makes the dyes work better under alkaline conditions.
• Most aldehydes function better as fixative or firming agents under
slightly alkaline conditions.
ANTICOAGULANTS
Purpose- Used to maintain blood in a liquid state and thereby
make it easy to remove from the circulatory system.
Types:
Citrates, phosphates, oxalates, borates, and EDTA.
• Also make is possible for the arterial fluid to function under
better conditions.
ANTICOAGULANTS
Citrates- white, odorless crystalline or granular material often used
for an anticoagulant and its water conditioning properties in
embalming fluid.
Oxalates- white powder not used as extensively as the citrates.
Borates- Stabilizes HCHO and prevents or reduces coagulation.
ANTICOAGULANTS
EDTA- prevents blood coagulation and also removes hardness chemicals
from the water supply.
When Used:
• The blood tends to clot easier when the deceased had pneumonia.
• The volume of circulating blood decreases when high fever precedes
death.
ANTICOAGULANTS
• The blood becomes more viscous and clots more readily after
circulation stops.
• It goes without saying that no circulation is going to lead to
additional problems and untreated/unpreserved tissues.
SURFACTANTS
Purpose- It promotes diffusion of the preservative elements
through the capillary walls to saturate the tissues uniformly.
• Capillary attraction, or the force that attracts and holds liquid in
the capillary tubes is the result of surface tension.
SURFACTANTS
• Surfactants aid or cause the embalming solution to flow
more readily and rapidly through the capillaries so that ALL
of the millions of tissue cells are literally bathed by the
embalming fluid.
• By reducing capillary attraction of blood and body liquids,
surfactant cause the almost immediate clearing of blood
from the capillaries.
SURFACTANTS
• Surfactants incorporate coloring agents into the solution and
obtain a normal appearance internally.
Surface Tension and Embalming Solutions• The lower the surface tension value, the faster the rate of
penetration by the liquid substance.
SURFACTANTS
• Surfactants increase the germicidal activity of chemical solutions.
• Surfactants function best in very low concentrations.
Too much surfactant will cause excessive drainage as well as over
saturation of tissue. (Over-embalmed/Under-embalmed tissues?)
Types- sulfonated oils, ployethylene glycol ethers.
SURFACTANTS
When used• in all cases, its in the embalming fluid already.
DYES
Purpose- To produce an internal cosmetic effect that closely
simulates the natural coloring of the tissues.
Types:
• Active dyes- color tissue
• Inactive dyes- only color the fluid in the bottle.
• Eosin, erythrosine, ponceau...
DYES
• When would we want to add a dye to the embalming fluid?
• When would we not want to add dye to the embalming fluid?
REODORANTS (PERFUMING AND
MASKING AGENTS)
Purpose- to enhance the odor of the embalming solution.
Types- wisteria, rose, and lilac oils and aromatic esters and
wintergreen.
• Remember that any attempt to mask HCHO generally results in
neutralization or destruction of the active chemicals.
When used- in most embalming fluids.
VEHICLES (DILUENTS)
Purpose- serves as the solvent for the many ingredients incorporated
into an embalming fluid. It can also provide some stability to the
formulation.
Types- gylcerine, sorbitol, glycol or alcohol.
What is the most common vehicle for embalming fluid?
When used- they must be used with every ordinary embalming fluid.