The use of technical grade chemicals and on-site production of ammonium nitrate: a cost-effective and safer approach to Thiel embalming

Napawan Taradolpisut; Wattana Weerachatyanukul; Worawit Suphamungmee; Somluk Asuvapongpatana; Torsak Luanphaisarnnont; Arada Chaiyamoon; Tyler Halliwell; Thewarid Berkban; Tracey Wilkinson; Athikhun Suwannakhan

doi:10.1007/s00276-025-03672-2

The use of technical grade chemicals and on-site production of ammonium nitrate: a cost-effective and safer approach to Thiel embalming

Napawan Taradolpisut, Wattana Weerachatyanukul, Worawit Suphamungmee, Somluk Asuvapongpatana, Torsak Luanphaisarnnont, Arada Chaiyamoon, Tyler Halliwell, Thewarid Berkban, Tracey Wilkinson, Athikhun Suwannakhan (Lead / Corresponding author)

Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

Purpose: While Thiel embalming effectively preserves cadavers in a lifelike and flexible state, its implementation is constrained by high costs and the use of ammonium nitrate, which may be restricted in certain countries due to regulatory controls and safety concerns. This study aims to develop a more economical and safer approach to Thiel embalming by using technical grade chemicals and synthesizing ammonium nitrate on-site and, both overcoming economic barriers to Thiel embalming and addressing regulatory constraints associated with ammonium nitrate. Methods: In the present study, technical grades were used instead of reagent grades. Ammonium nitrate was synthesized through a controlled reaction of nitric acid and ammonium hydroxide under strict safety protocols. The solution was incorporated into Thiel embalming fluids and used for arterial and venous embalming of 28 cadavers at two institutions. Results: The cadavers embalmed using the methods presented in this study were comparable to conventional Thiel-embalmed cadavers, preserving tissue flexibility, color, and structural integrity. The only notable difference was the reduced submersion duration, which was limited to three to four months.and the technique effectively mitigated the hazards of ammonium nitrate storage. Conclusion: The use of technical grade chemicals, combined with on-site production of ammonium nitrate, presents a more cost-effective alternative for Thiel embalming, particularly in regions with stringent regulations, making Thiel embalming more accessible for anatomy departments worldwide.

Original language	English
Article number	157
Number of pages	7
Journal	Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy
Volume	47
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-025-03672-2
Publication status	Published - 10 Jun 2025

Keywords

Ammonium nitrate
Cadaver embalming
Education
Thiel embalming

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Surgery
Anatomy
Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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10.1007/s00276-025-03672-2

Author accepted manuscriptAccepted author manuscript, 275 KBLicence: CC BY

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Taradolpisut, N., Weerachatyanukul, W., Suphamungmee, W., Asuvapongpatana, S., Luanphaisarnnont, T., Chaiyamoon, A., Halliwell, T., Berkban, T., Wilkinson, T., & Suwannakhan, A. (2025). The use of technical grade chemicals and on-site production of ammonium nitrate: a cost-effective and safer approach to Thiel embalming. Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 47, Article 157. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-025-03672-2

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abstract = "Purpose: While Thiel embalming effectively preserves cadavers in a lifelike and flexible state, its implementation is constrained by high costs and the use of ammonium nitrate, which may be restricted in certain countries due to regulatory controls and safety concerns. This study aims to develop a more economical and safer approach to Thiel embalming by using technical grade chemicals and synthesizing ammonium nitrate on-site and, both overcoming economic barriers to Thiel embalming and addressing regulatory constraints associated with ammonium nitrate. Methods: In the present study, technical grades were used instead of reagent grades. Ammonium nitrate was synthesized through a controlled reaction of nitric acid and ammonium hydroxide under strict safety protocols. The solution was incorporated into Thiel embalming fluids and used for arterial and venous embalming of 28 cadavers at two institutions. Results: The cadavers embalmed using the methods presented in this study were comparable to conventional Thiel-embalmed cadavers, preserving tissue flexibility, color, and structural integrity. The only notable difference was the reduced submersion duration, which was limited to three to four months.and the technique effectively mitigated the hazards of ammonium nitrate storage. Conclusion: The use of technical grade chemicals, combined with on-site production of ammonium nitrate, presents a more cost-effective alternative for Thiel embalming, particularly in regions with stringent regulations, making Thiel embalming more accessible for anatomy departments worldwide.",

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Taradolpisut, N, Weerachatyanukul, W, Suphamungmee, W, Asuvapongpatana, S, Luanphaisarnnont, T, Chaiyamoon, A, Halliwell, T, Berkban, T, Wilkinson, T & Suwannakhan, A 2025, 'The use of technical grade chemicals and on-site production of ammonium nitrate: a cost-effective and safer approach to Thiel embalming', Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, vol. 47, 157. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-025-03672-2

TY - JOUR

T1 - The use of technical grade chemicals and on-site production of ammonium nitrate

T2 - a cost-effective and safer approach to Thiel embalming

AU - Taradolpisut, Napawan

AU - Weerachatyanukul, Wattana

AU - Suphamungmee, Worawit

AU - Asuvapongpatana, Somluk

AU - Luanphaisarnnont, Torsak

AU - Chaiyamoon, Arada

AU - Halliwell, Tyler

AU - Berkban, Thewarid

AU - Wilkinson, Tracey

AU - Suwannakhan, Athikhun

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag France SAS, part of Springer Nature 2025.

PY - 2025/6/10

Y1 - 2025/6/10

N2 - Purpose: While Thiel embalming effectively preserves cadavers in a lifelike and flexible state, its implementation is constrained by high costs and the use of ammonium nitrate, which may be restricted in certain countries due to regulatory controls and safety concerns. This study aims to develop a more economical and safer approach to Thiel embalming by using technical grade chemicals and synthesizing ammonium nitrate on-site and, both overcoming economic barriers to Thiel embalming and addressing regulatory constraints associated with ammonium nitrate. Methods: In the present study, technical grades were used instead of reagent grades. Ammonium nitrate was synthesized through a controlled reaction of nitric acid and ammonium hydroxide under strict safety protocols. The solution was incorporated into Thiel embalming fluids and used for arterial and venous embalming of 28 cadavers at two institutions. Results: The cadavers embalmed using the methods presented in this study were comparable to conventional Thiel-embalmed cadavers, preserving tissue flexibility, color, and structural integrity. The only notable difference was the reduced submersion duration, which was limited to three to four months.and the technique effectively mitigated the hazards of ammonium nitrate storage. Conclusion: The use of technical grade chemicals, combined with on-site production of ammonium nitrate, presents a more cost-effective alternative for Thiel embalming, particularly in regions with stringent regulations, making Thiel embalming more accessible for anatomy departments worldwide.

AB - Purpose: While Thiel embalming effectively preserves cadavers in a lifelike and flexible state, its implementation is constrained by high costs and the use of ammonium nitrate, which may be restricted in certain countries due to regulatory controls and safety concerns. This study aims to develop a more economical and safer approach to Thiel embalming by using technical grade chemicals and synthesizing ammonium nitrate on-site and, both overcoming economic barriers to Thiel embalming and addressing regulatory constraints associated with ammonium nitrate. Methods: In the present study, technical grades were used instead of reagent grades. Ammonium nitrate was synthesized through a controlled reaction of nitric acid and ammonium hydroxide under strict safety protocols. The solution was incorporated into Thiel embalming fluids and used for arterial and venous embalming of 28 cadavers at two institutions. Results: The cadavers embalmed using the methods presented in this study were comparable to conventional Thiel-embalmed cadavers, preserving tissue flexibility, color, and structural integrity. The only notable difference was the reduced submersion duration, which was limited to three to four months.and the technique effectively mitigated the hazards of ammonium nitrate storage. Conclusion: The use of technical grade chemicals, combined with on-site production of ammonium nitrate, presents a more cost-effective alternative for Thiel embalming, particularly in regions with stringent regulations, making Thiel embalming more accessible for anatomy departments worldwide.

KW - Ammonium nitrate

KW - Cadaver embalming

KW - Education

KW - Thiel embalming

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105007625668

U2 - 10.1007/s00276-025-03672-2

DO - 10.1007/s00276-025-03672-2

M3 - Article

C2 - 40495054

AN - SCOPUS:105007625668

SN - 0930-1038

VL - 47

JO - Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy

JF - Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy

M1 - 157

ER -

The use of technical grade chemicals and on-site production of ammonium nitrate: a cost-effective and safer approach to Thiel embalming

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Keywords

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