title: Comparison of adipocere formation in four soil types of the Porto (Portugal) district.
abstract: Four typical soils of the Porto (Portugal) area were characterized and used to study the decomposition of buried pieces of pork meat under controlled laboratory experiments (an 8 month experiment with a relatively high soil moisture and a 1 month experiment with relatively low soil moisture). The soils types were: organic, sandy, gravel and clay-gravel soils. Soils were characterized for their grain size distribution, pH, water content, organic matter percentage and mineral composition. Four free fatty acids (myristic, palmitic, oleic and stearic) were analysed (using a methodology based on an extraction step followed by a derivatization reaction and high performance liquid chromatography analysis) in soil samples as a sign of adipocere formation. The direct sensorial analysis of the buried sample residues and the free fatty acids profiles of the sampled soils showed that sandy and clay-gravel soils (in a low moisture environment) slowed the normal decomposition process promoting the formation of adipocere. Nevertheless, this apparent soil effect is indirect and a consequence of the different water retention and permeability of the soils. Thus, the water content of the soils is a crucial factor for adipocere formation.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Geologia do Porto, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, R. Campo Alegre 687, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Nuno
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Durães
authors.forename: Débora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cortez
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Algarra
authors.forename: Francisco G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: José E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Borges
authors.forename: Iulius
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bobos
authors.forename: Joaquim C G Esteves
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: da Silva
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002048:Burial; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000032:analysis; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D011174:Portugal; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D012987:Soil; D013552:Swine; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D012987:Soil; D014867:Water