Comparison of adipocere formation in four soil types of the Porto (Portugal) district.
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.
Durães
Nuno
N
Centro de Geologia do Porto, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, R. Campo Alegre 687, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal.
Cortez
Débora
D
Algarra
Manuel
M
Sánchez
Francisco G
FG
Rodríguez-Borges
José E
JE
Bobos
Iulius
I
da Silva
Joaquim C G Esteves
JC
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
D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D012987:Soil; D014867:Water