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COCONUT HUSK as an Alternative Retardant in the

Decomposition of the Human Body

National Bureau of Investigation

Forensic ServicesMedico-Legal Division

PRESENTED BY: ABUNALES,REYES,ROSAL,TANHUECO,TUANO

FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS & THE DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY

Coconut Husk as an Alternative Retardant in the

Decomposition of the Human Body National Bureau of InvestigationForensic Services

Medico-Legal Division

IntroductionChapter 1

Introduction

Philippines is known to be a country prone to natural disasters

Philippines ranks as the third most disaster-prone country in the world

These disasters include deadly typhoons, earthquakes and volcano

eruptions.

Background of the Study

A good example would be the landfall of the typhoon

Haiyan (also known as typhoon Yolanda) last November 8,

2013, in which thousands of people died in the eastern part of

the Visayas region (including Tacloban).

Tacloban City after the landfall of Typhon Haiyan

FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS & THE DE LASALLE UNIVERSITY

The decomposition of the human body occurs

immediately after death. Decomposition of an exposed

cadaver is a continuous process, beginning at the

moment of death and ending when the body is reduced

to a dried skeleton [3].

In this light, the Disaster Victim Identification

(DVI) is one of the respondents when it comes to mass

disaster with the purpose of identifying and

repatriating all victims and body parts.

“The identification of dead bodies is done by

matching information of the deceased (physical features,

clothes, etc.) with information from individuals who are

missing or presumed dead[5].”

Number of studies have been conducted on various factors such as:

body size (Hewadikaram, 1991 as cited by Tumer et al., 2013)

humidity (Archer MS, 2004 as cited by Tumer et al., 2013)

temperature (Megyesi MS, 2005 as cited by Tumer et al., 2013)

microbiological activity (Tibbette, 2004 as cited by Tumer et al.,

conditions where carcass was found (Ayers, 2010 as cited by Tumer

et al., 2013)

soil pH (Haslam, 2009 as cited by Tumer et al., 2013)

moisture (Micozzi, 1997 as cited by Tumer et al., 2013)

Many alternatives have been used to delay the decomposition but

most of it are not easy to employ. Exploring possible alternative

retardants for human body decomposition has not been established

fully.

Coconut husk is one of the major agro industrial wastes

generated by developing countries each year. Other possible

utilization of coconut husk is being targeted. One of which is to

maximize its use as a retardant in human body decomposition

due do its antimicrobial activity [7].

Objectives of the Study• This study aims to prove the effectiveness of coconut husk as an alternative

retardant in the decomposition of the human body.

• This study aims to enumerate the different chemical compositions of coconut

• To prove the antimicrobial activity of coconut husk that aid in retarding the

human body decomposition.

• The study aims to produce a certain retardant in a form of powder that can be

applied directly to the skin of the cadavers.

Significance of the StudyThis study will be beneficial to the Forensic Science in the Philippines.

This will aid the time constraint problems and financial aspect that the DVI

teams are facing when identifying a large group of cadavers (due to the fast

decomposition of the human body).

Also, this will help the family members of the victims of any disaster in a

way that it will promote peace of mind and will at least lessen the burden and

worry they feel once their deceased relatives had been identified.

Scope and LimitationsThe study focuses only on the application of coconut husk in

retarding the human decomposition specifically the physical

appearance of the cadavers. One external factor particularly the

microbes affecting the human decomposition is considered.

Internal decomposition is not part of the research specifically the

mechanism of putrefactive bacteria. Also, this limits its control in

the Philippines, a tropical country, and where natural disasters

likely to occur.

Review of Related Literature

Chapter 2

Defining DecompositionDecomposition is a process of tissue breakdown as well as the

participation of autolysis, putrefaction and with superimposed insect

activity.

5 stages namely:

1. Fresh

2. Bloated

3. Decay

4. Post decay

5. Skeletal remains

5 Stages of Decomposition

Enumerating the Factors Affecting the Human Decomposition body size (Hewadikaram, 1991 as cited by Tumer et al., 2013)

humidity (Archer MS, 2004 as cited by Tumer et al., 2013)

temperature (Megyesi MS, 2005 as cited by Tumer et al., 2013)

microbiological activity (Tibbette, 2004 as cited by Tumer et al., 2013)

conditions where carcass was found (Ayers, 2010 as cited by Tumer et al., 2013)

soil pH (Haslam, 2009 as cited by Tumer et al., 2013)

moisture (Micozzi, 1997 as cited by Tumer et al., 2013)

Temperature Moisture

Body exposed on the surface decomposed

quickly compared to a body buried in the soil

[3]. Clothing and other coverings also insulate

a body from the environment and reduce

conduction and convection [8].

Obesity accelerates the decomposition of human

body, the rate of cooling is slowed down by

subcutaneous and abdominal fat because it has an

insulating property.

MicrobesMicrobes present in the skin

Factors that affect microbial growth

Phenolic Effects on Microbes

Staphylococcus epidermis

Staphylococcus aureus

Eurotium Repens

Klebsiella pneumoniae

Acinobacter baumannii

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Microbes Present at the skin of the cadavers:

Oxygen concentr

ationPressure

Osmotic Pressure

Temperature

pH Scale

Factors that affect microbial growth

Phenolic type of antimicrobial agents: antiseptic, disinfectant and preservative properties

• “General proplasmic poisons”

• Cause progressive leakage of intracellular consitituents

• Lysed rapidly growing cultures

• Young bacterial cells being sensitive to phenols

Phenolic effects on Microbes

Enumerating the Common Retardants

Formalin is an aqueous formaldehyde solution (40% HCHO

by volume or 37% HCHO by weight). Also known as methylene

glycol or methanol. It is traditionally used in the fixation and

preservation of tissues and whole specimens.

Hydrated Lime also known as calcium hydroxide or slaked

lime. Hydrated lime has the property to harden in reaction with

carbon dioxide, this process is also known as carbonation.

Ice, In places where there is constant snow and ice,

bacteria or insects are unable to attack the human remains. In

this condition, the cells are frozen in place and preventing from

decay.

Bog consists of decayed vegetal materials which inhibits

the decomposition due to constant moisture, acidic nature

and anaerobic condition. The preservation is aided by

mosses in the bog which acts as an anti-bacterial.

Sand is great for preservation because it absorbs the

body fluids. Without moisture, bacteria cannot break

down the body. The heat in sandy regions aids in drying

and preserving (Ibid).

DEFINING THE COCONUT FRUITThe coconut (Cocos nucifera L.

family Arecaceae) is a well distributed fruit

tree all around the world, providing food,

especially in the tropical and subtropical

regions and for its many uses it is often

called the “tree of life” [11].

Cocos Nucifera also known as Coconut Fruit

Parts of the Coconut Fruit

Coconut Husk Fiber/ Coir Fiber Fibrous material found between the leathery covering

and the coconut shell.

The natural color of the coir varies depending on the

variety and maturity of the nut and the processing

conditions.

The fibers are stiff, coarse, resilient, pliable and

resistant to bacterial attack. They are very resistant

next to the black fibers of the sugar palm,

Arengasaccharifera(Copeland, 1931).

Coconut Husk Fiber

Chemical CompositionCONSTITUENT PERCENT

Moisture 15.0

Lignin 43.0

Ash 8.26

Alkalinity of ash (as K2O) 37.5

Table 1 Shows the Composition of Coconut Husk

Coir dust is a light and fluffy material that falls off from the

mesocarp of the coconut fruit when it is shredded during

the coir processing.

Its constituents include cellulose, hemicelluloses and

extractives such as pectins and tannins. The constituents

present make coir dust a useful adsorbent or natural ion

exchanger because of the hydroxyl and carboxyl groups

present in its composition [19].

Coconut Husk Dust/ Coir Dust

Coconut Husk Dust

Chemical CompositionTable 2 Shows the

Composition of Coconut Dust

PERCENT (DRY BASIS)

CONSTITUENT A B

Moisture 15.38 20.0

Ash 6.19

Cellulose 24.25

Pentosan 27.31 10.4

Furfural 17.40

Lignin 54.78 33.33

CaO 0.4

P2O5 0.5

K2O 0.9

Table 3 Composition of coir dust

Antimicrobial Activity of Coconut Husk

National Bureau of InvestigationForensic Services

The husk material specifically has phenolic compounds:

• 4-hydroxybenzoic acid • Ferulic acid (4 hydroxyl-3-

Methoxy-trans-cinnamic acid)

Bioactive components: • Tocopherol • Palmitoleyl Alcohol, • B-sitosterol, • Cycloartanol

Highest inhibition• E.coli

(benzene) • S. typhi

(diethyl ether)

• Gallic acid• Ellagic acid• Catechin• Epicatechin• Procyanidin

dimer 1 & 2

“Gallic acid showed MIC of 39 μg/mL and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) at 78 μg/mL. Ellagic acid was not active against the tested strains, as well as catechin and epicatechin.”

Bacteria Laboratory Field

Pseudomonas sp.

10 mm 8 mm

Alteromonas sp. 11 mm 8 mm

Gallionella sp 8 mm 7 mm

Growth of Biofilm-forming bacteria was inhibited by coconut husk extract

MethodsChapter 3

Production of Coconut Husk Retardant

Harvesting

Dehusking

Washing

Sun Drying Grinding

Harvesting Fresh Coconut in a Province in the Philippines

Dehusking of Coconut Husks

Washing of water Ground coconut husksSun drying of coconut husks

40-mesh sieve for screening Detergent for washing Drum Drier to enhance moisture absorbent property

Antimicrobial Activity TestingEstimation of

Total Phenolics

Bacterial Cultures

Preparation of inoculum

Antimicrobial Susceptibility

Statistical Analysis

A known weight of 1

gram of coconut

husk powder

samples (in triplicate)

will be placed in 50 mL of 95%

ethanol.

At 0 °C and for 48 hours the samples

will be stored. The supernatant

from filtration

will be used for assaying

total phenolics.

The test tube will be

used to contain the

1 ml of supernatant

and 95% ethanol and

5 mL of distilled

water will be added as

The Folin-Ciocalteu

reagent (50%, 0.5 mL) will be added to each sample. After 5 min, 1 ml of 5% Na2CO3 will be

added and mixed vortex mixer and the

reaction mixture will be

allowed to stand for 60

min in the dark.

Bacterial Cultures &Preparation of Inoculum

Disc Diffusion Method

Statistical Analysis

Experiments will be done in triplicate and will be subjected by an analysis of variance

Statistical Analysis will follow a significance level of 0.05

References

coco husk2 [autosaved]

coconut husk coconut

university of santo

husk material

alternative retardant

tested strains

country prone

disasterprone country

bioactive material

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