Abstract:
Adipocere is a decomposition product comprising predominantly saturated
fatty acids which results from the hydrolysis and hydrogenation of adipose tissue.
Adipocere formation may occur in various decomposition environments but is chiefly
dependent on the surrounding conditions. In a soil burial environment these
conditions may include such factors as soil pH, temperature, moisture and the oxygen
content within the grave site. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of
these particular burial factors on the rate and extent of adipocere formation.
Controlled laboratory experiments were conducted in an attempt to form adipocere
from pig adipose tissue in mock burial environments. Infrared spectroscopy,
inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry, and gas chromatography – mass
spectrometry were employed to determine the lipid profile and fatty acid composition
of the adipocere product which formed in the burial environments. The results suggest
that adipocere can form under a variety of burial conditions. Several burial factors
were identified as enhancing adipocere formation whilst others clearly inhibited its
formation. This study acts as a preliminary investigation into the effect of the burial
environment on the resultant preservation of decomposing tissue via adipocere
formation.
