Today, we live in a world that encourages us to protect and preserve our natural resources. We are developing lifestyle trends that encourage behavior to lower the individual’s carbon footprint while at the same time reducing greenhouse gases and stabilizing climate change. In addition to lifestyle changes, we must consider what happens at the end of life and that transition back to earth. Environmentally focused end of life practices are growing in popularity and whether it’s a greener burial or greener cremation, we are all called to play a supportive role within our families and communities.
Since we at Matthews launched Bio Cremation (also known as Alkali Hydrolysis), I am always asked what exactly it is? Bio Cremation is an environmentally focused alternative that replaces the use of flame with the utilization of water, blended with an alkali solution of Potassium Hydroxide (KOH ). The Human body is placed into a specially designed cremation chamber where water and alkali are added, heated and gently circulated over the body, initiating the cremation process. The use of Alkali Hydrolysis is a proven technology, newly introduced into funeral service as an environmental alternative to traditional flame cremation. Alkali Hydrolysis uses 95% water and 5% potassium hydroxide (KOH). KOH is an alkali (not acid), inorganic compound that is used in numerous health and beauty cosmetics, soft soaps and cleaning supplies you would commonly find at home. This sterile process prevents the release of emissions (carbon monoxide, particulates, mercury). This more eco-friendly process offers distinct environmental advantages even beyond traditional flame cremation. For more information, please visit us on Facebook at Facebook.com/BioCremation and our consumer web site at www.biocremationinfo.com
Steve Schaal
President – North America Region
Matthews Cremation
Filed under: BIO Cremation, Green Cremation | Tags: Alkaline Hydrolysis, ethics
Sr. Renée Mirkes, O.S.F. Ph.D. is director of the Center for NaProEthics, the ethics division of the Pope Paul VI Institute, in Omaha, Nebraska. Sr. Mirkes published a thoughtful article in 2008 in The National Catholic Bioethics Center.
The article examines the philosophical thinking of several scholars on the subject of the dead human body, the Church’s long held views on burial and its changing views on cremation. The article explains how in 1963, Pope Paul VI lifted the penalties previously connected to cremation by declaring that as long as faithful Catholics request cremation for valid reasons, i.e., reasons that arise from the exigencies of their situation but have nothing to do with denying the immortality of the soul or the resurrection of the body, it is a morally acceptable alternative to burial [6]
Sr. Mirkes then goes on to say, “There has been a change for the better in attitudes and in recent years more frequent and clearer situations impeding the practice of burial have developed. Consequently, the Holy See is receiving repeated requests for a relaxation of Church discipline relative to cremation. The procedure is clearly being advocated today, not out of hatred of the Church or Christian customs, but rather for reasons of health, economics, or other reasons involving private or public order”[7].
In regards to alkaline hydrolysis, Sr. Mirkes states, “A careful examination of the human body’s natural decomposition process after burial and the bodily decomposition involved in cremation reveals that the flashpoint of indignity with alkaline hydrolysis—specifically, pouring the liquid remains down a drain—is found in a similar form in the seepage after burial and in cremation through rain. Also, in the embalming process that precedes traditional burial, the blood and body fluids that are drained from the body are flushed into the sewer. Yet the Church does not forbid embalming. Furthermore, is burning a dead human body any less aggressive and, at first blush, any less offensive or violent, than the process of alkaline hydrolysis? And yet the Church allows cremation. Or, when we understand the slow, relentlessly destructive disintegration process within the buried body, is natural decomposition really any less offensive or repulsive than that which happens in alkaline hydrolysis?”[8] And therefore, “The process of alkaline hydrolysis is, in and of itself, a morally neutral action.”[9]
To reference footnotes and read entire article, please click here.
The three T’s of proper pollution control are Temperature, Time and Turbulence. Keeping these three factors in proper alignment are critical to the prevention of smoke and odor (i.e. pollution). Additionally, controlling these elements will go a long way towards higher efficiency and less maintenance issues.
Temperature
Sustaining a proper temperature range plays a major role in the proper
operation and efficiency of cremation equipment. Most cremation units are designed to operate most efficiently when the after-chamber holds a temperature between 1400˚F – 1800˚F. Above or below this range can result in unwanted pollution problems. Of course you will want to check with your manufacturer’s specifications to get the proper temperature range for your machine.
Time
Equally important as temperature is the retention time. The retention time
refers to the amount of time that the gases are exposed to the specific temperature. This will ensure total combustion of the smoke and odor from the exhaust gas before it leaves the stack. Environmental authorities throughout the United States and Canada have different regulations and most of these governing authorities require an after-chamber operating temperature of 1400˚F – 1800˚F with a retention time of .5 – 1 second.
Turbulence
The third T is turbulence. Turbulence refers to how much the air is mixed up inside the cremation equipment. It’s created by the presence of baffle walls and restrictions in the path of the exhaust gases. Without turbulence, proper time and temperature will be of little help and total combustion will not occur. If any one of the three T’s is not present or insufficient, a pollution problem is likely to occur.
Rule of Thumb
Hotter is not always better: It’s a common misconception that if 1400˚ F is good, any temperature about that is even better. This isn’t true. Temperatures between 1400˚F – 1800˚F are of a certain volume. When gas cools, the volume decreases and likewise, as the temperatures get hotter, the gases expand. As the volume become too large, it moves more rapidly through the after-chamber, cause the retention time to lower and consequently causing pollution problems.
A balance of all three T’s must be maintained to ensure proper pollution control and operational efficiency.
Not all cremation equipment are created alike, nor are the needs of crematories. This is why Matthews Cremation offers a wide variety of models based on the overall volume and budget of the cremation facility.
Take the IEB Series 8, 16 & 20 as an example. This is our line of entry-level pet cremation equipment, great for start-ups and funeral homes getting into the pet loss care business. This line is very well suited for low to moderate volumes of individual and small batch communal cremations.
The IEB 20 - the largest of our entry-level cremation units.
The IEB 8 can easily handle around 1,000 cremations a year and has a safe load capacity of up to 200 lbs. This is perfect for facilities handling household pets. The IEB 20 handles up to 500 lbs. and can perform about 2,500 cremations annually, making it an excellent choice for facilities planning to do small communal or segregated cremations as well as individual services.
These units all have a relatively small footprint – all are 6′ 5″ wide and 8′ 4″ tall. Only the length of the machine varies with the longest being the IEB 20 measuring in at 12′ 9.5″.
Included with the price of admission: Start-up & training, 10′ of stainless steel exhaust stack and storm collar, environmental submittals and operating tools.
And of course now we have cash back incentives of $2,500 for this series, making it an even better deal. If you are on the fence, don’t sit there for too long because this offer is only good until February 28, 2011.
Call us at (888) 837-3982 to learn more.
Filed under: Promotions
For the first time in our history, Matthews Cremation is offering generous cash back incentives, up to $10,000 for equipment purchased between now and February 28, 2011.
The cash back offer applies to our best-selling human & pet equipment – from our entry-level IEB 8 animal incinerator, able to handle up to 75 lbs/hour to our Ener-Tek IV with 75 minute or less cremation time.
Whatever you needs, there is a machine that will fit your business AND your budget.
Act now to receive cash back on the following equipment:
Human Equipment:
Power Pak II: Ranked the #1 "Best Seller" in North America for the past fifteen years.
- Power Pak II – $5,000 cash back
- Super Power Pak III – $7,500 cash back
- Ener Tek IV – $10,000 cash back
Animal Equipment
- IEB 8 – IEB 20 – $2,500 cash back
- IEB 26 – IEB 40 – $5,000 cash back
- IEB 50 – IEB 100 – $10,000 cash back
Financing is Available!
Interested? Call us at (888) 837-3982 and ask to speak to one of our knowledgeable equipment consultants today.
A promotion like this has never happened before and it may never happen again so call now!
The Fine Print: Cash incentive can be applied towards finance buy down, equipment discount or accessory purchase. Must take delivery by September 2011. Offer valid from February 1, 2011 until February 28, 2011. No other discounts or incentives will apply. Applies to North America only.
Filed under: Promotions
There are a few very necessary parts on cremation equipment that, if they fail, will render the equipment inoperable. This can be a nuisance for a large facility with several machines and a serious problem for a crematorium with only one.
To avoid shutting down and waiting for an overnight package with your spare part to arrive, it’s very easy to prepare yourself ahead of time and avoid this situation all together.
Representative Spare Parts Kit. Your kit may vary.
We have bundled together select parts necessary to keep your cremation equipment in good order. A typical spare parts kit may include items like a spark plug, thermo-couple, panel timer, etc. Our spare parts kit will vary based on make and model and we will be happy to assemble a customized kit exclusive to your needs.
If you don’t have Matthews equipment, no worries! We have parts for many of today’s most popular machines including IEE, ALL, even Crawford and B & L.
Purchase this package between now and February 11th, 2011 and you will received 25% off the total price of all parts. Because each machine is different, final price will be determined based on the type of equipment.
Call us at (800) 327-2831 and ask for your sales representative. If you don’t know who that is, just let our receptionist know what state you are located in and you will be forwarded to the proper person.
Happy New Year!
For various reasons, bodies sometime arrive at the crematorium in a plastic pouch. This can be problematic for the operator as the high BTU content in plastic can release a lot of energy, causing excess heat and smoke. Now normally, these pouches are 2–4 mils thick (roughly the thickness of a balloon) and because of the low volume of the material, it usually won’t require any special precautions. The case can be cremated with the same settings as those used for a cardboard container.
Thicker pouches of 4 mils or more, such as those used by the military, are an
exception. Heavy pouches cremate at an unusually fast rate due to the high BTU content of the pouch itself. Therefore, it is necessary to cremate a heavy pouch the same way you would a large body, even if the body itself is of an average size. Use the timer settings and operating sequence outlined for large bodies. Following this general rule of thumb will help to keep your retorts running clean and efficiently.
One way to take much of the guesswork out of any case is to equip your retort with intuitive logic controls (IPC). Matthews Cremation Division offers the M-Pyre Advanced Control Panel. All you need to do is provide answers to the following questions:
- What kind of container are you using?
- What is the weight of the body?
- What is the gender?
- What is the case number of the day?
Based on these parameters, it will set up your retort for the cleanest and most efficient burn. Additionally, it performs a continuous self-diagnostics and will alert the operator if any corrective action is needed. For further information, please visit our M-Pyre page.
Filed under: Safety | Tags: Cremation, nuclear medicine, radiation, safety
Radioactive medicine has been developed and implemented at such a break-neck pace over the past decade that access to information regarding exposure has been slow to receive and difficult to understand. This has been a major source of concern for many crematory operators as it poses a possible risk to their health and safety.
To compound matters, even if there were concrete answers and solutions, crematory operators rarely get complete information. Details like: Does the body contain seeds? What type of radioactive material was used? How long have the seeds been implanted? and other such details are not known. It is very likely that the average crematory operator is already cremating bodies with these seeds and doesn’t even know it.
Some History
The use of radioactive seed implants is not new. This technique has long held promise as a method of delivering a very high dose of radiation while simultaneously reducing the amount of radiation to the adjacent organs. Early efforts in the 1970s and 80s were limited by a lack of effective technology to place seeds, causing uneven dosage of radiation. The results were suboptimal and this method was largely abandoned.
As the technology for medical imaging improved, efficient and effective means of planning and monitoring the placement of seeds were developed. The ability to accurately plan seed placement and verify seed position led to a renaissance of the implant technique. Another advantage of modern implant techniques is the avoidance of surgery: the seeds are placed by needles under anesthesia in an operating room environment.
What are these seeds?
Radioactive seeds are most commonly used to treat prostate cancer. New
applications are always being developed though so it’s not necessarily safe to assume that just because the case is female, there is nothing to worry about.
The radioactive material is contained within a titanium “seed”. This seed is roughly the size of a grain of rice, but there can be as many as 130 of these seeds in a typical application. Two different radioactive sources are used: Iodine (I-125) or Palladium (Pd-103). The radioactive seeds can be implanted either temporarily or permanently, but the permanent form of implantation is most commonly used.
What can go wrong?
Typical cremation temperature ranges between 1400˚F to 1800˚F. Titanium melts closer to 3000˚F, so there’s little worry about the seed deconstructing in such a manner. The material in the seed boils around 1300˚F however and this combined outer temperature exposure and inner pressure from the boiling contents can cause a rupture.
So are we safe?
This may all sound rather unsettling, but consider the following facts:
- Both radioisotopes emit very low energy radiation and are primarily absorbed in the treatment area or “target” tissue immediately surrounding the seed, only a few millimeters from their location
- They gradually lose their radioactivity over a period of time – Iodine seeds over a period of about six months and Palladium seeds over a period of about three months.
According to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, the main source of potential radiation exposure from the cremation of bodies that contain radionuclides is inhalation of ash particles during the cleaning of the retort. They further go on to say that it is exceedingly unlikely that any crematorium staff would come close to exceeding the annual dose limit for the public.
Regardless, it’s best to assume the worst. Operators should exercise universal precautions. Protective gear including gloves, eye protection and a quality particle mask should be worn at all time when cleaning out the chamber and handling the cremains for processing and packaging. This protection should be more than adequate to minimize exposure to any possible radiation emitting from these seeds.
Oxygen Controls
While not entirely new, oxygen control systems are another available technology that has improved in performance and price. Oxygen control systems measure O2 levels in the secondary chamber’s exhaust gases. Controlling O2 provides benefits on many levels.
First, maintaining proper and steady oxygen levels during the combustion process provide for more effectively cleansing of the emissions. Secondly, optimal O2 levels equal less fuel consumption. Reducing fuel consumption not only reduces money spent, it also further reduces emissions. Thirdly, tighter control of oxygen reduces cremation time. Oxygen control systems are still considered pricey by some crematories but advances in technology and manufacturing have brought it into the realm of possibility.
Beliefs and motivations surrounding global warming and the environment will vary, as will the ability to afford and install the newest and most effective green technology. A common goal we can all embrace though is to learn as much as we can in regards to the industry and the environment, steadily moving towards improving our environmental signature in the communities we serve.
New cremation technology is emerging in more affordable designs. This technology can decrease the use of fossil fuels in the combustion system and decrease emission from the cremation process – both are a bonus to our environment.
Matthews M-Pyre™ (ILC – intuitive logic controls) is an automated control system that doesn’t require any guesswork on the part of the crematory operator. Industry professionals know there are significant variables in the types of cremation containers. Not only do the materials differ widely, but the weight can range from 7 to 170 pounds. The same situation applies to the cases. We receive human remains ranging from 60 to 600 pounds and those same bodies have varying fat tissue percentages from 4% to 40%. All these variables (and more!) impact the cremation process and the decisions operators have to make.
M-Pyre only requires the operator to answer four basic questions (case number of the day, gender, weight and type of case) and the ILC system automatically establishes the settings for the most efficient production cycle. This reduces the opportunity for operator error which in turn will reduce the amount of emissions from the cremation equipment, another win-win for everyone involved.
The M-Pyre system can be added to the most new and existing cremation systems for costs that are well within reason for most North American crematories. For more information, click here.
