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Bio-Cremation

Presentation By:Michael Hajko

Environmental Specialist IIEnvironmental Compliance Section

Presentation Overview

Direct burial, cremation types, statistics Various cremation processes Pros & cons Chemistry of various processes Process wastes Permitting Pretreatment requirements Discharge monitoring

Direct Burial

Is the most common funeral rite in America In many cases, a body is first embalmed Burial decomposition is a slow natural process Supported by religious beliefs Huge impact on land and resources

Direct Burial: Embalming

Direct Burial: Formaldehyde

2 CH3OH + O2 → 2 CH2O + 2 H2OMethanol + Oxygen → Fomaldehyde + Water

Direct Burial: Formaldehyde

Toxic to animals Causes respiratory and reproductive issues Many European countries ban its use 1 ounce of 37% solution can kill humans Very toxic to microbes in septic tank systems

Traditional CremationOverview and Impact

Cremation is defined as the process of burning up - from Latin “cremare”

2-4 hour process, heavy energy consumption Amount of fuel needed each year equals a car

making 84 trips to the moon and back Releases up to 500 lbs of CO2 for each event Vaporizes dental amalgams and other metals

Traditional CremationOverview and Impact: Mercury Dental amalgams are 50% Mercury (Hg) Vaporized during incineration Heavy metal that can destroy nervous systems In the UK, 16% of Hg comes from crematoria Public resists removing amalgams before

cremation Hg pretreatment (chimney filters) is expensive

Methylated Mercury

Traditional Cremation Statistics

Traditional Cremation: Overview and Impact

No longer outlawed by Catholic Church Becoming more popular because of cost and

lack of traditional burial plot space Break up and distancing of families makes family

burial plots impractical Cost is a fraction of traditional burial

Chemical Cremation Process

Alkaline hydrolysis process Uses water (H2O) and alkali to break down

organic matter Bio-cremation enhances this process using state

of the art technology Same technology now available for “green

burials” Most eco-conscious burial method

Basic Constituents of the Human Body

Human body is mostly water Also contains sugars, fats, nucleic acids, and

amino acids Amino acids are building blocks of proteins Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) code for genetic

material Sugars and fats are structural and sources of energy

Chemical Cremation Process:Hydrolysis of

Amino and Nucleic Acids Breaks DNA at its most basic level Cleaves phosphate ester bonds Releases individual sugars and amino acids Cleaves 40% of all peptide bonds Destroys protein coats of viruses Destroys prions

Alkaline Hydrolysis of DNA

Hydrolysis of Fats

Hydrolysis of Carbohydrates

Chemical Cremation: Environmental Impact

No regulatory air permits No vaporization of heavy metals Pacemakers can be left in place Titanium implants and amalgams can be

recovered – intact and sterile Low energy usage Small carbon footprint

Chemical Cremation: Process Safety

Batch generates <400 gallons of sterile effluent Effluent is cooled, pH neutralized before release Effluent is a soapy mixture of amino acids,

carbohydrates, and trace metals Toxins are destroyed No dioxins are produced Machinery is electrically rated and fully insulated Operators are not exposed to dust, direct heat

Resomation®

2008 - Matthews Cremation signed agreement with Resomation, LLC in the UK

2009 - Bio-cremation was signed into law 2011 - first commercial unit installed in St.

Petersburg, Florida Other bio-cremation units exist in Minnesota 6 states presently allow process

Sandy Sullivan, CEO, Resomation Ltd.

Chemical Cremation: Resomation®

Resomation Unit (Resomator) Interior

Resomation Mechanical and Chemical Support Systems

Resomator® Procedure Overview

Chemical Cremation Remains

Chemical Cremation Pretreatment Requirements

pH neutralization and continuous monitoring, recording

Ensure process does not use sodium hydroxide (NaoH)

Solids separation not typically needed due to nature of discharge

Chemical Cremation Challenges Public opinion of discharging effluent pH must always be neutralized Insufficient chemical dosing can result in

incomplete FOG degradation New manufacturers may face same problems

as Resomator®

Will need frequent initial monitoring by the pretreatment program staff

Misleading concerns regarding Oil & Grease

Chemical Cremation: Final Effluent Quality

• Temp: 77 degrees F• pH 7.43 S.U.• CBOD: 3,400 mg/L• COD: 5,300 mg/L• TSS: 1,300 mg/L• Chloride: 59 mg/L• Oil & Grease: 1,200 mg/L • Boron: 0.34 mg/L

• As: < 0.004 mg/L • Cd: 0.0018 mg/L• Cr: 0.004 mg/L• Cu: 0.036 mg/L• Pb: <0.002 mg/L• Mo: 0.0064 mg/L• Ni: <0.002 mg/L• Se: < 0.005 mg/L• Zn: 0.130 mg/L • Hg: 0.00054 mg/L

Source: City of St. Petersburg

Chemical Cremation: Oil & Grease Effluent Concern

• Oil & Grease: 1,200 mg/L • Analytical Method EPA 6440• Detects non-volatile hydrocarbons, vegetable oils,

animal fats, waxes, and saponified fats (soaps) • Actual effluent component detected from this

method is a liquid-based potassium soap• Potassium soap doesn’t harden, cause blockages, or

harm collection systems (the Oil & Grease limit concerns)

Recommended SUO Revisions

Permit or Best Management Practice (BMP) Monitoring?

Permit as Minor or Significant industrial user (IU) to demonstrate wastewater treatment proficiency, and then apply BMPs thereafter

However, if permitted, then SUO modifications will be required to support this

Monitor the IU under BMP Program: IU to continuously monitor/adjust pH IU to sample/report annually CA inspect IU CA randomly sample

Questions?

Speaker Contact Information:

Michael Hajko407-254-7709 (Direct)

407-254-7702(Environmental Compliance Office)

Michael.Hajko@ocfl.net