EMBALMING CHEMICALS & Products

1. EMBALMING CHEMICALS & Products

2. TYPES OF EMBALMING CHEMICALS / Products • Preservatives (arterials) • Cavity fluids • Supplemental fluids • Special Purpose fluids • Accessory Products

3. Function of ARTERIAL Fluids(Preservative) • Preservation • Disinfection - germicidal & bactericidal • Anti-coagulation • Restoration • It is important to achieve these without objectionable changes in skin and tissues.

4. Action of Preservativeschemicals(or purpose for use) • Inactivate active chemical groups of protein and/or amino acids • inhibit further decomposition • inactivate enzymes • kill microorganisms • destroy odors and eliminate their future production.

5. Action of Preservativeschemicals • PRESERVATIVE chemicals inhibit or arrest (retard) decomposition not reverse

6. What’s in there? Components?

7. COMPONENTS OF ARTERIAL FLUIDS • Preservatives • Germicides • Anti-coagulants • Vehicles • Surfactants • Dyes • Reodorants/Deodorants • Modifying agents

8. Preservatives Aldehydes Alcohols Phenols

9. Aldehydes • Formaldehyde • Glutaraldehyde • Glyoxal

10. Formaldehyde • Chemical formula HCHO or H2CO

11. Formaldehyde • colorless gas • has pungent, irritating odor • strong dehydrating agent • strong oxidizing agent • accessory chemicals must be used to suppress the undesirable effects without loss of germicidal action

12. Formaldehyde • prepared or created by oxidation of alcohols specifically the burning of methanol

13. Formaldehyde • In aqueous solution is called formalin = HCHO gas dissolved in water Alternately described as a solution and a mixture

14. Formaldehyde = Formalin • HCHO mixed with H2O is converted to methylene glycol (a mixture) • Methylene glycol is an unstable compound (like hydrogen peroxide)

15. Formaldehyde = Formalin • Formalin is an aqueous solution of HCHO • saturated solution • 40% HCHO by volume 37% HCHO by weight

16. Formaldehyde • In embalming applications typically described by index • Very little free formaldehyde is present in the aqueous solution • that has little or no impact b/c the ability to preserve /disinfect is due to the donation of a methylene group CH2 (= Methylene glycol)

17. Formaldehyde • In solid form known as PARAFORMALDEHYDE • ParaHCHO is white powder • When HCHO converts to solid (powder) the process is known as polymerization

18. Formaldehyde • Methanol is the anti-polymerant used to inhibit polymerization to para HCHO

19. Formaldehyde • Ammonia NH4OH is a good true deodorant for HCHO • HCHO & nitrogen products have an affinity for one another • when mixed the result is UROTROPIN

20. polymerizes to PARAFORMALDEHYDE • Ammonia NH4OH is a good true deodorant for HCHO ----> UROTROPIN • Methanol is the anti-polymerant used to inhibit polymerization to para HCHO ***CONFUSION WARNING*** Methanal is another name for HCHO

21. Index IS: amount of formaldehyde measured in grams dissolved in 100 ml. of water i.e. the % of HCHO gas in a fluid or solution

22. Index measurements Strong / high ~33-40% HCHO (difficult cases) Medium / average ~20-30% HCHO (routine cases) Weak / low / mild ~10-18% HCHO (jaundice and special cases)

23. other CLASSIFICATION methods Color General properties Index

24. General properties • deep penetration i.e. total diffusion • controlled firming • thorough preservation • dehydration control • controlled pH • uniform results (esp. when used with staining dyes) • compatible with additives.

25. Other preservative components • Dialdehydes • Alcohols • Phenol • Quats • Inorganic salts

26. DIALDEHYDES • Glutaraldehyde • Glyoxal

27. Glutaraldehyde • patented for use in embalming fluid in 1943, but really came to the attention of the industry in 1950's • has 2 functional aldehyde groups v. 1 for HCHO (di-aldehyde) • is capable of reacting w/ protein over a wider pH range than other aldehyes

28. has relatively low volatility, low odor, & low toxicity -is naturally a liquid • is an effective cold chemical sterilant

29. Glutaraldehyde v. HCHO • more effective as a disinfectant than HCHO (fixes protein rapidly) • removes less water in the chemical reaction (so less of a dehydrating effect) • disinfects quicker at lower concentrations than HCHO • creates more cross linkages than HCHO and the bonds are more stable • has better penetrating quality

30. Q: So why hasn’t Glutaraldehyde replaced HCHO? A: more expensive than HCHO to produce

31. Glyoxal • More potent than HCHO (produces many more cross-links; the more links the firmer the tissue and the less flexible the protein) • tends to stain tissue yellow so primarily used in cavity fluids; • works best in ph of 9-10

32. MOST PRESERVATIVES (especially HCHO) preserve best in an acid pH, BUTin acid pH environment: - the greatest dehydration takes place and - the greatest graying action takes place Advantage: dialdehydes

33. Alcohols cross link protein, but not as effectively as aldehydes isopropyl has best germicidal qualities alcohols have strong dehydrating effect on protein ethanol, methanol, propanal, etc. methanol is good methylene group donor & anti polymerizing agent for aldehydes; is the most highly used alcohol

34. Why use alcohols? 1.outstanding preservative 2. good solvent for chemicals that do not dissolve in water3. excellent penetrator; some bleaching action4. stabilizes HCHO5. serves as vehicle for other ingredients in fluid6. more toxic to bacteria than other alcohols

35. PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS • Phenol akaCarbolic Acid (C6H5OH) is a coal-tar derivative reliable disinfectant very good penetrating action b/c it is very rapidly absorbed into protein structures of skin

36. PHENOL bleaches tissues to a putty gray color (i.e., good for external packs on stains and discoloration) chiefly used in cavity formulations does not produce the readily detectable firmness of aldehydes tends to create putty gray when combined w/ aldehydes

37. the most powerful phenolic compounds are not soluble in water found in triple or double base fluids with alcohol and/or HCHO (together these improve the bacteria killing power of phenols)

38. Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QUATS) • good germicidal and deodorizing qualitiesused as topical antiseptic prior to surgery • in aqueous solution pH is neutral primary embalming use • cavity fluids • cold sterilization • deodorant sprays • mold-proofing

39. QUATERNARY AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS Disadvantages: • not compatiblewith wetting & coloring agents in most arterials • any alkaline substance i.e. soap will render useless • used for disinfection of cavities, nose, skin, etc. but lose their capabilities in presence of HCHO

40. Examples • benzalkonium chloride • zephiran chloride (zephirol) • roccal • germitol

41. Inorganic Salts • have been used since the early days • examples: potassium acetate sodium nitrate some salts of Aluminum (Al) • can also act as buffers, anticoagulants & water conditioners

42. COMPONENTS OF ARTERIAL FLUIDS • Preservatives • Germicides • Anti-coagulants • Vehicles • Surfactants • Dyes • Reodorants/Deodorants • Modifying agents

43. Germicides • Chemicals which kill disease causing microorganisms or • render them incapableof reproduction (same list as for preservatives)

44. Anti coagulants postmortem processes naturally make blood become more viscous • Anti-coagulants retard this tendency & / or • prevent adverse reactions between blood and other embalming chemicals

45. Anti coagulants • are responsible to maintain blood in liquid state • facilitate blood removal • Anticoagulants may be the principal ingredients of co &/or pre-injection fluids

46. Anti coagulants • Oxalates & citrates were the original anticoagulants used butoxalates are toxic to the embalmer • Ionized calcium is a key factor in blood coagulation.calcium ions cause hard water therefore contributing to blood clotting & difficulties with drainage

47. Vehicles aka solvent / diluent / carrier serve as a solvent for the many ingredients incorporated into an embalming fluid. Water***** Alcohol

48. Vehicles • may be a mixture of solvents which keeps the active ingredients in a stable and uniform state during transport thru the circulatory system • must not react w/ the active components and make them useless • should not react w/ the tissues of the circ. system, because this would interfere w/ distribution & diffusion.

49. Water as chief vehicle • composes more than half of formalin anyway • vascular system is about 50% water • our bodies are 75-80% water. • 90% of our fluids use water as the vehicle.

50. Alcohols as vehicles • Methanolaka methyl alcohol / wood alcohol • Ethanol aka ethyl alcohol – in some special purpose and cavity fluids. • Glycerine, sorbitol, glycols