The Effects of Household Corrosive Substances on the Dissolution of Complete Pig (Sus scrofa) Carcasses

Abstract

Caustic substance submersion has been a known method of body dispersal in homicides, and its use continues today in cases involving organized crime. Additional research is necessary to determine whether a complete body can be fully dissolved using caustic substances and at what rates. The present study submerged two complete 10-to 15-kg fresh, never-frozen, juvenile pigs (Sus scrofa) in each of three different household corrosive substances (37% sulfuric acid, 31.45% hydrochloric acid, and 18–28% sodium hydroxide) under controlled conditions to simulate the way in which complete human remains would react to common household corrosives. The goal of this project was to determine which corrosive substance could most rapidly dissolve a body or reduce it to a slurry. Hydrochloric acid achieved complete dissolution in one week, sulfuric acid achieved complete dissolution in five weeks, and sodium hydroxide achieved near-complete dissolution in eight weeks. Certain household corrosive substances are therefore effective in complete body dissolution.