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Comparison of adipocere formation in four soil types of the Porto (Portugal) district
- Source :
- Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal, Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (RCAAP), instacron:RCAAP
- Publication Year :
- 2009
-
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.
- Subjects :
- Burial
Swine
Soil science
Outras ciências médicas
Adipocere
Fatty Acids, Nonesterified
complex mixtures
Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Soil
Other medical sciences
Soil pH
Animals
Organic matter
Water content
Forensic Pathology
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
chemistry.chemical_classification
Portugal
Soil organic matter
Chemical process of decomposition
Water
Soil classification
Other medical sciences [Medical and Health sciences]
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
chemistry
Environmental chemistry
Postmortem Changes
Soil water
Outras ciências médicas [Ciências médicas e da saúde]
Law
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 18726283
- Volume :
- 195
- Issue :
- 1-3
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Forensic science international
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....943d21c6fba7c56b61d22f02f0a75365