EMBALMING
CHEMICALS & Products
TYPES OF EMBALMING
CHEMICALS / Products
 Preservatives
 Cavity
(arterials)
fluids
 Supplemental fluids
 Special Purpose fluids
 Accessory Products
Function of ARTERIAL Fluids
(Preservative)
 Preservation
 Disinfection
germicidal & bactericidal
 Anti-coagulation
 Restoration

It is important to achieve these without
objectionable changes in skin and tissues.
Action of Preservatives chemicals
(or purpose for use)
 Inactivate
active chemical groups of
protein and/or amino acids
 inhibit further decomposition
 inactivate enzymes
 kill microorganisms
 destroy odors and eliminate their future
production.
Action of Preservatives chemicals
 PRESERVATIVE
chemicals inhibit or
arrest (retard) decomposition
not reverse
What’s in there?
Components?
COMPONENTS OF ARTERIAL
FLUIDS
 Preservatives
 Germicides
 Anti-coagulants
 Vehicles
 Surfactants
 Dyes
 Reodorants/Deodorants
 Modifying
agents
Preservatives
Aldehydes
Alcohols
Phenols
Aldehydes
 Formaldehyde
 Glutaraldehyde
 Glyoxal
Formaldehyde
 Chemical
formula
HCHO or H2CO
Formaldehyde
 colorless
gas
 has pungent, irritating odor
 strong dehydrating agent
 strong oxidizing agent

accessory chemicals must be used to suppress
the undesirable effects without loss of germicidal
action
Formaldehyde
 prepared
or created by oxidation of
alcohols
specifically the burning of methanol
Formaldehyde
 In
aqueous solution is called formalin
= HCHO gas dissolved in water
Alternately described as a solution and a
mixture
Formaldehyde = Formalin
 HCHO
mixed with H2O is converted to
methylene glycol (a mixture)
 Methylene
glycol is an unstable compound
(like hydrogen peroxide)
Formaldehyde = Formalin
 Formalin
is an aqueous solution of HCHO
 saturated
 40%
solution
HCHO by volume
37% HCHO by weight
Formaldehyde
 In
embalming applications typically
described by index
 Very
little free formaldehyde is present in
the aqueous solution

that has little or no impact b/c the ability to
preserve /disinfect is due to the donation of a
methylene group CH2
(= Methylene glycol)
Formaldehyde
 In
solid form known as
PARAFORMALDEHYDE
 ParaHCHO
 When
is white powder
HCHO converts to solid (powder)
the process is known as polymerization
Formaldehyde
 Methanol
is the anti-polymerant used to
inhibit polymerization to para HCHO
Formaldehyde

Ammonia NH4OH is a good true
deodorant for HCHO

HCHO & nitrogen products have an
affinity for one another
when mixed the result is
UROTROPIN

 polymerizes
to PARAFORMALDEHYDE
 Ammonia NH4OH is a good true deodorant
for HCHO ----> UROTROPIN
 Methanol is the anti-polymerant used to
inhibit polymerization to para HCHO
***CONFUSION WARNING***
Methanal is another name for HCHO
Index
IS:
amount of formaldehyde
measured in grams
dissolved in 100 ml. of water
i.e. the % of HCHO gas in a fluid or solution
Index measurements
Strong / high ~33-40% HCHO
(difficult cases)
Medium / average ~20-30% HCHO
(routine cases)
Weak / low / mild ~10-18% HCHO
(jaundice and special cases)
other CLASSIFICATION methods
Color
General properties
Index
General properties
 deep
penetration i.e. total diffusion
 controlled firming
 thorough preservation
 dehydration control
 controlled pH
 uniform results
(esp. when used with staining dyes)
 compatible
with additives.
Other preservative components
 Dialdehydes
 Alcohols
 Phenol
 Quats
 Inorganic
salts
DIALDEHYDES
 Glutaraldehyde
 Glyoxal
Glutaraldehyde

patented for use in embalming fluid in 1943, but
really came to the attention of the industry in
1950's

has 2 functional aldehyde groups v. 1 for HCHO
(di-aldehyde)

is capable of reacting w/ protein over a wider pH
range than other aldehyes
 has
relatively low volatility, low odor, & low
toxicity
-is naturally a liquid
 is
an effective cold chemical sterilant
Glutaraldehyde v. HCHO
 more
effective as a disinfectant than HCHO
(fixes protein rapidly)
 removes
less water in the chemical reaction
(so less of a dehydrating effect)
 disinfects
quicker at lower concentrations
than HCHO
 creates more cross linkages than HCHO
and the bonds are more stable
 has
better penetrating quality
Q: So why hasn’t Glutaraldehyde
replaced HCHO?
A: more expensive than HCHO to produce
Glyoxal
 More
potent than HCHO
(produces many more cross-links; the
more links the firmer the tissue and the
less flexible the protein)
 tends to stain tissue yellow so primarily
used in cavity fluids;
 works best in ph of 9-10

MOST PRESERVATIVES (especially HCHO)
preserve best in an acid pH,
BUT in acid pH environment:
- the greatest dehydration takes place and
- the greatest graying action takes place
Advantage:
dialdehydes
Alcohols
cross link protein, but not as effectively as
aldehydes
isopropyl has best germicidal qualities
alcohols have strong dehydrating effect on protein
ethanol, methanol, propanal, etc.
methanol is good methylene group donor & anti
polymerizing agent for aldehydes;
is the most highly used alcohol
Why use alcohols?
1.outstanding preservative
2. good solvent for chemicals that do not
dissolve in water
3. excellent penetrator; some bleaching
action
4. stabilizes HCHO
5. serves as vehicle for other ingredients
in fluid
6. more toxic to bacteria than other
alcohols
PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS
 Phenol aka Carbolic
Acid (C6H5OH)
is a coal-tar derivative
reliable disinfectant
very good penetrating action b/c it is very
rapidly absorbed into protein structures of
skin
PHENOL
bleaches tissues to a putty gray color (i.e., good
for external packs on stains and discoloration)
chiefly used in cavity formulations
does not produce the readily detectable firmness
of aldehydes
tends to create putty gray when combined w/
aldehydes
the most powerful phenolic compounds are
not soluble in water
found in triple or double base fluids with
alcohol and/or HCHO
(together these improve the bacteria killing
power of phenols)
Quaternary Ammonium
Compounds (QUATS)
 good
germicidal and deodorizing qualities
used as topical antiseptic prior to surgery
 in aqueous solution pH is neutral
primary embalming use
 cavity fluids
 cold sterilization
 deodorant sprays
 mold-proofing
QUATERNARY AMMONIUM
COMPOUNDS
Disadvantages:

not compatible with wetting & coloring
agents in most arterials

any alkaline substance i.e. soap will render
useless

used for disinfection of cavities, nose, skin,
etc. but lose their capabilities in presence of
HCHO
Examples
 benzalkonium
chloride
 zephiran chloride (zephirol)
 roccal
 germitol
Inorganic Salts
have been used since the early days
 examples:

potassium acetate
sodium nitrate
some salts of Aluminum (Al)

can also act as buffers, anticoagulants & water
conditioners
COMPONENTS OF ARTERIAL
FLUIDS
 Preservatives
 Germicides
 Anti-coagulants
 Vehicles
 Surfactants
 Dyes
 Reodorants/Deodorants
 Modifying
agents
Germicides
 Chemicals
which kill disease causing
microorganisms
or
 render them incapable of reproduction
(same list as for preservatives)
Anti coagulants
postmortem processes naturally make blood
become more viscous
 Anti-coagulants
retard this tendency
& / or
 prevent adverse reactions between blood
and other embalming chemicals
Anti coagulants
 are
responsible to maintain blood in liquid
state
 facilitate blood removal
 Anticoagulants
may be the principal
ingredients of co &/or pre-injection fluids
Anti coagulants

Oxalates & citrates were the original
anticoagulants used but oxalates are toxic to
the embalmer

Ionized calcium is a key factor in blood
coagulation.
calcium ions cause hard water therefore
contributing to blood clotting & difficulties with
drainage
Vehicles
aka solvent / diluent / carrier
serve as a solvent for the many ingredients
incorporated into an embalming fluid.
Water*****
Alcohol
Vehicles
 may
be a mixture of solvents which keeps
the active ingredients in a stable and
uniform state during transport thru the
circulatory system
 must not react w/ the active components
and make them useless
 should not react w/ the tissues of the circ.
system, because this would interfere w/
distribution & diffusion.
Water as chief vehicle
 composes
more than half of formalin
anyway
 vascular system is about 50% water
 our bodies are 75-80% water.
 90% of our fluids use water as the vehicle.
Alcohols as vehicles
 Methanol
aka methyl alcohol / wood alcohol
 Ethanol
aka ethyl alcohol –
in some special purpose and cavity fluids.
 Glycerine,
sorbitol, glycols
Surfactants
 wetting
agents
 surface tension reducers
 penetrating agents
 surface active agents
Surfactants
 reduce
the molecular cohesion of a liquid
and thereby enable the liquid to flow
through smaller apertures (spaces)
Advantages
- promote diffusion of preservatives thru
capillary walls for uniform saturation
promote uniform distribution of coloring
agents
-
the lower the surface tension the faster
the rate of penetration
-
-increase the germicidal action of solution.
Surfactants
 work
best in low concentrations
 must be carefully selected for compatibility
with other chemicals
 Massage,
manipulation and intermittent
drainage aid the action of surfactants
Examples
 Household
detergents
• sodium lauryl sulfate***
 Sulfonates
& poly hydroxy alcohols
• Glycerol- aka glycerine
 Glycol
• ethylene glycol = antifreeze
 Sorbitol
Dyes
 Staining
(active) v. non-staining (inactive)
Create cosmetic &/or non cosmetic fluids
 May
be part of the fluid formulation
Or
Added to the solution at discretion of
embalmer
examples
(cherry red – inactive)
 Carmine red (natural vegetable color)
 Fuchsin
 Erythrosine
 Amaranth
 Eosine (yellow to orange)
 Ponceau
Reodorants/deodorants
 Chemicals
having the capability of
displacing or altering an unpleasant odor
so that it is converted to a more pleasant
one
 Perfuming materials / masking agents
 Primary function is to enhance odors
R is false D only – masks does not eliminate
Reodorants/deodorants
 Most
used in embalming are floral
compounds which have been found to be
most effective in mitigating odors.
 Intended
to give a more pleasant odor, not
to cover harshness of HCHO
Examples





Benzaldehyde
Cloves
Sassafras
Oil of Wintergreen (is Methyl salicylate)
Spices such as
Lavender, rosemary, etc.
(true low odor chemicals are result of using
donor compounds for slow release of aldehyde,
not due to use of re/deodorants
Modifying agents



Humectants
Buffers
Water conditioners
(water softeners)
Modifying agents
 Typically
added to SOLUTION based upon
case analysis
purpose is to control the rate of action of the
main preservative ingredients
Go to cavity fluids