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The climate and temperature in which a corpse decomposes can have great effect on the rate of decomposition; [11] higher temperatures accelerate the physiological reactions in the body after death and speed up the rate of decomposition, and cooler temperatures may slow the rate of decomposition.
Environmental temperature: Decomposition is accelerated by high atmospheric or environmental temperature, with putrefaction speed optimized between 21 °C (70 °F) and 38 °C (100 °F), further sped along by high levels of humidity. This optimal temperature assists in the chemical breakdown of the tissue and promotes microorganism growth.
The human body is composed of approximately: 64% water, 20% protein, 10% fat, 1% carbohydrate, 5% minerals. [1] The decomposition of soft tissue is characterized by the breakdown of these macromolecules, and thus a large proportion of the decomposition products should reflect the amount of protein and fat content initially present in the body. [4]
A measured rectal temperature can give some indication of the time of death. Although the heat conduction which leads to body cooling follows an exponential decay curve, it can be approximated as a linear process: 2 °C during the first hour and 1 °C per hour until the body nears ambient temperature.
Decomposition or rot is the process by which dead organic substances are broken down into simpler organic or inorganic matter such as carbon dioxide, water, simple sugars and mineral salts. The process is a part of the nutrient cycle and is essential for recycling the finite matter that occupies physical space in the biosphere .
It is the time lapse between death and discovery. After death, decomposition occurs. Decomposition includes physical, chemical, and biological changes. [19] Below are some of the biochemical changes that happen during decomposition which can help estimate the time since death (keeping in mind that there is variation between species): [20]
An alkaline hydrolysis disposal system at the Biosecurity Research Institute inside of Pat Roberts Hall at Kansas State University. Alkaline hydrolysis (also called biocremation, resomation, [1] [2] flameless cremation, [3] aquamation [4] or water cremation [5]) is a process for the disposal of human and pet remains using lye and heat; it is alternative to burial, cremation, or sky burial.
When water is heated to well over 2,000 °C (2,270 K; 3,630 °F), a small percentage of it will decompose into OH, monatomic oxygen, monatomic hydrogen, O 2, and H 2. [3] The compound with the highest known decomposition temperature is carbon monoxide at ≈3870 °C (≈7000 °F). [citation needed]