Pure Science: What is water cremation or aquamation, which was chosen for Desmond Tutu’s body?

Upon Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s death last week, his remains were cremated through the process of alkaline hydrolysis or aquamation. Also known as bio-cremation or water cremation, the ecofriendly process is gaining much attention for how quick and green it is. ThePrint’s Sandhya Ramesh explains how aquamation works and how it’s different from regular cremation.

Supplementary reading: 

 

• Dissolving the Dead https://thewalrus.ca/dissolving-the-dead/

 

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