Jessica Antill , Volker K. Schill ,

Plastination is a preservation technique for human and animal tissues that produces highly durable specimens that, with appropriate care, last indefinitely. However, due to their durability, few crematoriums/incineration plants have experience with their disposition. This paper aims to determine whether cremation is an appropriate and safe disposition method for plastinates by investigating the thermal disposability of three silicone- or epoxy-impregnated specimens. Investigations also included the legal compliance within the UK and Germany. Following incineration, the thermal disposability of each specimen was investigated, chiefly the calorific value and ash melting behavior. Additionally, the UK waste management company Stericycle and the German Crematorium Krematorium am Limes were interviewed regarding compliance and regulatory standards to ensure the data fell within their appropriate remits. Thermal disposability testing revealed that all specimens produced the expected results for incinerated plastic; the most important being the calorific value, as it positively correlates with overall energy output. All three specimens' calorific value fell within the expected range of plastics (21.90 - 43.20 MJ/Kg), with the epoxy specimen having the highest value of 26.23 MJ/Kg. Calculations show cremation of a whole plastinated body with a pine coffin is completely appropriate and acceptable, as the total energy output (1138MJ) is lower than the total energy output of an oak coffin alone (1208MJ). Therefore, the combustion chambers of both crematoriums and incineration plants are suitable for the thermal degradation of plastinated specimens. Interviews with Stericycle and a crematorium manager confirmed that it is permissible to incinerate plastinated specimens, as compliance with regulations was upheld. Our findings demonstrate that crematorium combustion chambers are suitable and safe for the disposition of plastinated specimens, as the relevant technical and legal standards for the UK and Germany were met. Therefore, this paper can serve as a disposal guide for both crematorium and incineration plant operators, as well as for institutions housing plastinated specimens. However, as no investigations into the potential of flue gas pollutants have been conducted, future chemical tests are required. These results would not influence the technical incineration procedure, but may affect the feasibility of plastination incineration, as regulations regarding potential environmental impact must be met.

Katherine Edling, Güneş Aytaç, Steven Labrash, Mia'Zadai Navarro, George Balazs, Jeanette Wyneken, Scott Lozanoff,

Temporospatial sharing of plastinated specimens remains a problem. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate a workflow to create and license high-resolution 3D digital models of plastinated head specimens from endangered olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) and loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtles. Two endangered sea turtle heads were obtained as a result of longline bycatch and drawn from a longstanding biological specimen collection at the University of Hawaii.  The specimens were plastinated using the standard room temperature technique. Photogrammetry was employed to generate detailed digital 3D anatomical models.  The models were uploaded to a web-based platform for publishing and licensing under a Creative Commons license, enabling exchange across agnostic hardware. Examples are provided for active engagement. Results provide direct accessibility and interactivity for educators and researchers. This combined approach offers a valuable resource, facilitating education exchange and licensing, particularly of imperiled species like the olive ridley and the loggerhead sea turtles.

John Cichewicz, Michelle Baumgartner, Patrick W. Frank,

Finding efficient ways to plastinate specimens has the potential to increase production capacity and reduce costs, thereby benefiting the learning community. This study focused on human brain tissue due to its delicate structure and high demand in neuroanatomy education. Eleven human brains were sectioned into approximately 5 mm slices in both coronal and transverse planes. Ten specimens were stained using either Le Masurier’s Method (Prussian Blue Reaction) or Alston’s Method, while one specimen remained unstained. Following cold-temperature dehydration (-25°C) in acetone, all specimens were impregnated using a standard cold-temperature silicone mixture at room temperature. Measurements were recorded prior to staining and after the completion of curing. The average shrinkage across all slices was 8.9 ± 4%, and the overall processing time was reduced compared with traditional cold-temperature impregnation protocols. No significant differences in shrinkage were observed based on staining method or plane of section. Additionally, the incorporation of histological staining did not adversely affect the plastination process or the specimens' dimensional stability. These findings suggest that using cold-temperature silicone at room temperature enables more rapid impregnation, likely due to its lower initial viscosity, while maintaining shrinkage rates comparable to those of traditional methods. This supports the concept that early-phase polymer infiltration plays a critical role in minimizing tissue distortion despite time-dependent increases in viscosity. Overall, room-temperature plastination represents a practical, resource-efficient alternative for producing high-quality neuroanatomical teaching specimens.

Ellen H.H. Savoini, Paul E. Smolenyak,

Plastination relies on preserving biological tissues by replacing tissue fluid with a curable polymer. A critical initial step in the plastination process is dehydration, which ensures the complete removal of water content, thereby enhancing the durability and quality of specimens. Acetone is widely favored among dehydrating agents due to its effectiveness in minimizing tissue shrinkage when used under cold conditions, facilitating rapid water displacement, and being easily vaporized and expelled from tissue during the silicone impregnation phase. Acetone's central role in dehydration requires purchasing large quantities as an initial investment. The ability to recover used acetone from the tissue dehydration process dramatically reduces the frequency of additional acetone purchases and the cost of hazardous waste handling. Equipment that can recycle acetone efficiently and effectively accomplish this often exceeds the budget for a start-up laboratory. The techniques described outline a method to achieve the highest purity of acetone with minimal loss, using equipment that is easily accessible in any chemistry laboratory or can be purchased inexpensively. This study focuses on a three-step method for recovering acetone from waste containing fat and organic matter. These steps include vacuum filtration, fractional distillation, and purification.  We applied this method to ten samples of acetone waste recovered after tissue dehydration. Waste acetone purity ranged from 80% to 95%, with varying amounts of fat and organic matter. Final acetone was of laboratory grade with a purity of 99 ±0.1(SE)% with the use of molecular sieves. The distillation apparatus produced almost 1 L of distillate per hour, with a loss of 19 ± 3 mL (SE) from the initial 2000 mL. Our results demonstrate that the process that utilizes all three steps is cost-effective and yields the highest purity of acetone, making it a valuable and sustainable method for plastination laboratories.