A Gentler Path for Saying Goodbye

For many pet parents, saying goodbye to a beloved companion is one of life's most difficult moments. In recent years, a gentler alternative to traditional flame cremation has gained attention across the pet aftercare industry: water-based cremation, also known as aquamation or alkaline hydrolysis. This process offers families another choice when making end-of-life arrangements for their pets.

Water-based pet cremation uses warm water and an alkaline solution in a controlled, sealed vessel to accelerate the same natural decomposition process that occurs in soil over time. The result is the same as flame cremation—bone fragments that can be processed into cremated remains—but the path there is quieter, slower, and for many, feels more peaceful.

Whether you operate an aquamation service or are simply curious about what the process involves, understanding the underlying chemistry can help demystify this modern approach to pet cremation.

What Is Pet Water Cremation (Aquamation)?

Pet aquamation is a water-based alternative to traditional flame cremation that uses a combination of warm water, alkaline chemicals, and gentle circulation inside a sealed stainless steel vessel. Over the course of several hours, this process breaks down soft tissue through a natural chemical reaction called alkaline hydrolysis, leaving behind only bone material. These bone fragments are then dried, processed, and returned to the family as cremated remains.

The process takes place in a closed system. Inside, the pet's remains are placed on a tray or cradle, and the vessel is filled with a solution of water and potassium hydroxide. The temperature is raised to between 150 and 300 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the equipment and protocol, and the solution circulates gently around the remains. Unlike flame cremation, there is no combustion, no open fire, and no direct emissions from burning fuel.

Comparing Aquamation and Flame Cremation

Both methods produce the same end result: bone fragments that are processed into cremated remains. The choice between them often comes down to personal preference, availability, and, for some families, environmental considerations.

The Chemistry Behind Aquamation for Pets

At its core, aquamation is a chemistry-driven process. Two chemicals play distinct but complementary roles in professional pet aquamation operations: potassium hydroxide, which is central to the process itself, and d-limonene, which supports the facility environment outside the vessel.

Why Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) Is Used

Potassium hydroxide is a strong alkaline compound that, when dissolved in water, creates the chemical environment necessary for alkaline hydrolysis to occur. In simple terms, KOH raises the pH of the water solution to a level where the natural breakdown of organic tissue is accelerated significantly. This is the same fundamental process that occurs in soil over years, but the controlled conditions inside an aquamation vessel allow it to happen in a matter of hours.

High-purity potassium hydroxide flakes dissolve readily in warm water to create the alkaline solution

In practice, operators add a measured amount of potassium hydroxide to the vessel at the start of each cycle. The exact concentration depends on the equipment manufacturer's specifications and the size of the remains being processed. The KOH dissolves into the warm water, and as the solution circulates around the remains, the alkaline hydrolysis reaction proceeds gradually and evenly.

⚠️ Safety Considerations When Handling KOH

The Role of D-Limonene in Scent and Cleanup

While potassium hydroxide does the work inside the aquamation vessel, d-limonene supports the facility environment in a different way. D-limonene is a naturally derived solvent extracted from citrus peels, widely used in industrial cleaning products and odor-control applications. It has a characteristic light citrus scent that many people find pleasant and clean.

In pet aquamation facilities, d-limonene is typically used in cleaning solutions for equipment rooms, floors, drains, and other non-contact surfaces. It does not participate in the aquamation reaction itself. Instead, it helps maintain a facility environment that feels welcoming to families and comfortable for staff.

Real-World Example: A Regional Pet Aquamation Provider

To illustrate how these chemicals fit into real operations, consider the example of a regional pet aquamation provider that Alliance Chemical supplies. This mid-sized operation serves veterinary clinics and pet parents across several counties, processing remains from pets of all sizes in a dedicated aquamation unit.

Their KOH Program

This provider receives potassium hydroxide in drums, which their team stores in a designated chemical storage area with secondary containment. Before each aquamation cycle, staff prepare a working solution by dissolving the appropriate amount of KOH flakes into water according to their equipment manufacturer's guidelines.

Because they use the same KOH product for every cycle, their process times remain consistent, and they can schedule pickups and family communications with confidence. When their KOH supplier delivers on schedule and the product performs consistently, the operation runs smoothly.

Their Facility Cleaning Program

In addition to KOH, this provider uses d-limonene-based cleaners throughout their facility:

• Daily: Equipment room floor mopped with diluted d-limonene solution
• Weekly: Drain cleaning and deodorizing
• Ongoing: General janitorial tasks in reception area and family consultation room

Staff members have commented that they appreciate working around the mild citrus scent rather than the harsher smells associated with some industrial cleaners. Families who visit the facility often remark on how clean and neutral the space feels, which supports the provider's focus on offering a compassionate, professional experience during a difficult time.

Environmental and Operational Benefits

Pet aquamation has gained attention in part because of its potential environmental benefits compared to traditional flame cremation. Understanding these benefits—and the operational factors that support them—can help providers communicate effectively with families who ask about the process.

Environmental Footprint

Traditional flame cremation involves burning natural gas or propane at high temperatures for an extended period, which produces direct emissions from combustion. Water-based cremation does not involve combustion, so it generates no direct stack emissions from burning fuel. This distinction is meaningful for families who are concerned about air quality and carbon footprint.

The aquamation process produces a sterile, nutrient-rich liquid effluent as a byproduct. This liquid is typically discharged to the municipal wastewater system in accordance with local regulations. Because the process breaks down organic material at the molecular level, the resulting effluent is generally compatible with standard wastewater treatment processes. Providers should work with their local wastewater authority to understand any permitting or monitoring requirements.

Operational Consistency and Safety

For pet aquamation providers, operational consistency is closely tied to chemical quality. Using a well-specified potassium hydroxide product from a reliable supplier helps ensure that each cycle performs as expected.

Alliance Chemical: Supporting Pet Aquamation Providers

Alliance Chemical serves as a supply partner for pet aquamation facilities across the United States, providing the industrial chemicals that make professional operations possible. Our role is to deliver consistent, high-quality products along with the documentation and logistics support that operators need to run their businesses smoothly.

Key Products for Water-Based Pet Cremation

Getting Started: Considerations for Providers

For pet aftercare providers considering aquamation or looking to optimize existing operations, building a reliable chemistry program is an important foundational step:

• Understand local requirements: Permitting and wastewater discharge regulations vary by jurisdiction
• Size your operation: Equipment capacity and throughput influence chemical storage needs and usage rates
• Plan chemical storage: KOH requires proper storage conditions and secondary containment
• Select your products: Choose KOH format (flake or liquid) and d-limonene products for facility cleaning
• Establish supplier relationships: Work with a supplier who understands aquamation operations

Partner with Alliance Chemical

Water-based pet cremation offers families a gentler alternative for saying goodbye to their beloved companions. Behind this compassionate service is a foundation of reliable chemistry: potassium hydroxide that makes the process work and d-limonene-based cleaners that keep facilities comfortable and welcoming.

At Alliance Chemical, we supply the industrial chemicals that pet aquamation providers depend on every day. From consistent KOH products to citrus-derived cleaning solutions, we help operators build chemistry programs that support professional, compassionate care.

About Alliance Chemical