The effect of soil type on adipocere formation
- Publisher:
- Elsevier Ireland Ltd
- Publication Type:
- Journal Article
- Citation:
- Forbes Shari, Dent Boyd, and Stuart Barbara 2005, 'The effect of soil type on adipocere formation', Elsevier Ireland Ltd, vol. 154, no. 1, pp. 35-43.
- Issue Date:
- 2005
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Adipocere refers to a postmortem product which forms from body fat in the later
stages of decomposition. Factors present in the surrounding decomposition environment will
influence adipocere formation and may accelerate or retard the process of conversion. One
such factor important in burial environments is the type of grave soil in which the burial has
taken place. This study was conducted to investigate the influence of various soil types on the
formation of adipocere in grave soils. X-ray diffraction and particle size analysis were used to
characterise the soils which were essentially chosen on the basis of grain size. Infrared
spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry, and gas chromatography –
mass spectrometry were used to investigate the lipid profile and chemical composition of
adipocere developed from decomposing tissue. The results suggest that adipocere is able to
form in various soil types and that particular soil environments may accelerate its formation.
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