Field of invention

[0001] The present invention relates a method and device for improvement of environmental stabilization of buried biological material, where the natural decomposition and composting has not taken place or takes extremely long time. More specifically the invention relates to an improved method and a tool for performing the improved method for acceleration of the decomposition of buried corpses, or animal cadavers.

Background

[0002] Biological material, such as buried corpses, animal cadavers, or parts thereof, that are exposed to oxygen, bacteria, fungi etc. present the environment will be decomposed and composted with time. Soft tissue will be decomposed first, while bone will take long time to be decomposed and will normally remain for decades. If the conditions are optimal, soft tissue will be decomposed and composted in a few years. However, if the natural conditions for decomposition and composting are not present e.g. by lack of oxygen and decomposing and composting organisms, the corps may be conserved for a long time. Lack of oxygen may be caused by natural conditions, such as by compact soil being rich in clay and water, or by practice of wrapping the corps in plastic to avoid smell and leakage from the coffin. Plastic wrapping was used in Norway from the min 1950's to the end of the 1970's, a practice that have caused problems later as the corps has not been decomposed and composted. Plastic wrapping has also been used in other countries.

[0003] A corps that is not allowed to be decomposed and composted by the natural processes is conserved for decades, and will cause problems in re-using the grave after the end of the preservation period, or if the grave has to be opened for other reasons, such as e.g. for burial of the spouse or other close family in the same grave. To open a grave that is not decomposed as assumed, is a disagreeable task and is not in accordance with the health and safety at work act. The opening of such a grave may give a smell that causes discomfort in the neighborhood. Accordingly, such graves are preserved and made unavailable for new burials, despite a wish to be buried in the same grave, or the need to release the area for new graves or other use. Additionally, the fat tissue in the skin and other fat in the body, forms adipocere that is resistant to decomposition and forms a hard and protective outer layer around the body of the corps. Due to the smell, and the remains of body parts not being decomposed and composted in a grave even after the preservation period for the grave, reuse of graves has been stopped in Norway.

[0004] NO 300006, to Kjell Larsen 0stbye, describes a method for post decomposition of a body buried in soil. Chemicals to decompose the buried body are injected by means of an injection device. The chemicals are preferably burnt lime, or quicklime, i.e. CaO. According to the method described there a bore for injection of quicklime is made after localization of the coffin. Optionally, an additional pressure release bore to release the pressure caused by the injection, is made before injection. It is also mentioned that steam may be injected into the grave to increase the temperature above the normal core temperature in a grave (in Norway) of about 2-4 °C, to start the reaction between the water in the grave and the injected quicklime. During the reaction between quicklime and water, the temperature in the grave may raise to above 100 °C. Adipocere melts at about 80 degrees C. The soft tissue will then be dissolved and be made available for natural decomposition. A similar method is known from DE 10355067-Al.

[0005] The main problem with this known method is the process is hard to control. Accordingly, it is difficult to ensure that the desired reaction takes place through the total volume of the coffin. Additionally, the method is totally dependent on the water content of the grave. Variation in water content may give undesired variations in the results of the injection. Additionally, adipocerous graves are difficult or impossible to treat using this method as the adipocere prevents contact between the quicklime and water.

[0006] EP 1457 188 relates to a method to facilitate the decomposition of adipocerous graves, in which method CaO is injected through a bore into the grave, and where the CaO is mechanically mixed with the content in the grave by means of a drill bit with knives. The method according to EP 1457 188 has, however, met resistance and is not accepted by the authorities responsible for the graveyards, at least in Norway, as the mechanical cutting and mixing has been regarded as being unethical.

[0007] EP 2027 944, to Protempra AS, relates to an improvement of the method of N0300006, where a plurality of holes is drilled from the surface into the coffin or the buried corps. CaO and water are thereafter injected simultaneously into the grave. The CaO is injected together with pressurized air, and water is injected through nozzles at a pressure of about 3 to 150 bar. A problem with the method is that the mixing of water and CaO is not optimal, so that parts of the buried corps may not be exposed for the treatment and may result in imperfect decomposition.

[0008] Accordingly, there is still a need for a method and a device that ensures a post decomposition for environmental stabilization of graves in a safe, controllable, and ethically worthy way.

Summary of the invention

[0009] According to a first aspect the invention relates to an injector for CaO powder, air and high pressure water, comprising an elongated, straight injector stem and an injector head, where a first channel for high pressure water, and a second channel for CaO and air are arranged in the injector stem, where first injector channel is connected to a water nozzle in the injector head, and the second injector channel is connected to a powder nozzle in the injector head, characterized in that the water nozzle is coaxially arranged inside of the powder nozzle, and that the nozzles are directed perpendicular to the length axis of the injector.

[0010] Simultaneous injection of CaO and air, and water through a coaxial nozzle directed perpendicular to the length axis of the injector, where an outer nozzle is a nozzle for injection of CaO and air, and the inner nozzle is a nozzle for injection of high-pressure water, ensures an intimate mixing of CaO and water with the content in the grave to ensure degradation of organic material therein. As the nozzles are directed perpendicular to the length axis of the injector, the generated spray of CaO, air and water will be directed horizontally.

[0011] According to a first embodiment, the injector stem comprises an outer injector pipe and an inner injector pipe coaxially arranged inside the outer injector pipe, where the first injector channel is the annular space formed between the outer injector pipe and the inner injector pipe, and where the second injector channel is the channel formed inside of the inner injector pipe.

[0012] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a method for environmental stabilization of graves where the natural degradation has not occurred, the method comprising the following steps:

• drilling a plurality of vertical bore holes into the grave,

• simultaneous injection of CaO, air and high-pressure water into the grave, and

• allowing the reaction between CaO and water to develop heat and thereby to decompose biological material in the grave, characterized in that an injector according to claim 1 is inserted into the grave through at least one of the bore holes and that CaO mixed with air and high-pressure water are injected into the grave through the nozzles.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the pressure of the injected high-pressure water is from 300 to 2000 bar.

[0014] The skilled person will understand that the a grave, as used in the present description and claims, is used in the meaning of a traditional grave where a corps is buried in a coffin, to graves without a coffin or where the coffin has collapsed, or mass graves for human bodies or animal cadavers, or parts thereof.

Short description of the figures

[0015]

Figure 1 is a length section through an injector according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a cross section A-A through the injector of figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a length section through a grave during treatment by the method and injector according to the present invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0016] The present invention is directed to improvements in the equipment and the method as described in EP 2 027 944, to improve the reliability in the decomposition and composting of a buried corps and animal cadavers that has not been fully decomposed and composted. As for EP 2 027 944, CaO, water and air are injected into the grave to accelerate the decomposition and composting. By injecting CaO powder, water and air simultaneously through a coaxially arranged injector opening, CaO powder, air and water are efficiently mixed with each other and

[0017] Figure 1 is a length section through an injector 1 according to the present invention, and figure is a cross section A-A in figure 1. The injector comprises an injector head 2 connected to an injector stem 3. The injector stem 3 comprises an outer injector pipe 4 and an inner injector pipe 5 coaxially arranged inside the outer injection pipe 4. Both the outer injector pipe 4 and the inner injector pipe 5 are at one end radially connected to the injector head 2. The connections between the injector head 2 and the injector pipes 4, 5 are preferably threaded connections, but any connection that is sufficiently strong and reliable, such as welded connection etc., may be used.

[0018] The inner injector pipe 5 connected to a powder channel 6a in the injector head 2, forming a continuation of an inners space 5a in the inner pipe 5. The channel 6a is connected to a powder nozzle 6 for spraying powder from the inner injector pipe 5, together with air. The powder nozzle 6 is directed perpendicular to the length axis of the injection pipes 5, 6 and the injector head 2.

[0019] An annular space 4a is formed between the outer 4 and the inner 5 injector pipes. A water channel 8 is arranged from the annular space 4a to a water nozzle 7 being coaxially arranged to the powder nozzle 6a.

[0020] A drill head connector 9 may be arranged at the injector head 2 to connect to an optional drill bit to use the present injector 1 to drill the necessary holes in the ground.

[0021] Figure 3 is a length section through a grave to be treated to decompose not composed biological material, such as a buried corps or animal cadavers. The accurate position of a grave 10 may be determined by means of a geo radar or any other available means. One or more drill holes 11 are drilled along the length of the buried body, either by means of a separate drill, or by using the present injector with a drill bit arranged on the injector head 2.

[0022] An optional sensor rod 12, may be inserted into the grave 10 through one of the drill holes 11 to measure humidity and temperature. Additionally, sensors for different gases may be present to measure the presence and concentration of different gases. The presence or absence of gases may be used to indicate the status of decomposition and composting of the grave, such as presence of adipocere. The present injector 1 inserted into the grave through another drill hole 11. Stoppers 13 are arranged to prevent water or air mixed with CaO to blow out of the drill holes 11 during the following procedure.

[0023] The injector 1 is at the top connected to a control box 14, which again preferably is connected to a tractor or the like. The control box 14 includes a motor to rotate the injector, both during the injection phase, and during drilling if the injector is used for drilling. Additionally, pressurized air and CaO powder, introduced through a CaO hose 15, pressurized water, introduced through a water hose 16, are introduced into the inner space 5a of the inner injector pipe 5, and into the annular space 4a, respectively, are controlled and introduced in the control box 14. Power for operation of the motor in the control box is introduced via a power line 17. The power may be electrical power, pneumatic power, or preferably hydraulic power.

[0024] After the drill holes have been drilled, the optional sensor rod inserted, and the stoppers have been put into all but one hole, the injector may be inserted for injection. To avoid leakage in the annular space between the walls of the drill hole 11 and the injector 1, water is introduced into the annular space either by inserting a small amount of water through the nozzle 7, or by pouring water into the annular space manually. It is preferred to blow compressed air through the powder nozzle 6 to avoid ingress of soil and water into the powder nozzle 6.

[0025] After bringing the injector head is in position inside the grave 10, a first blow of air is released into the grave through the inner injector pipe 5 and the powder nozzle 6a to open up the content in the grave. Thereafter, high pressure water is blown into the grave through the nozzle 7 at a pressure of 300 to 2000 bar, at the same time as the injector is rotated. This is done to start tearing apart biological material as a preparation for the further treatment. Thereafter, while the rotation of the injector is continued, a mixture of pressurized air, at a pressure of 2.8 to 3.2 bar, is introduced via the inner injector pipe 5 and blown into the grave from the powder nozzle 6a, at the same time as high-pressure water is introduced through nozzle 7. Due to the coaxial arrangement of nozzle 7 inside the powder nozzle 6a, water, CaO and air are intimately mixed and inserted into the biological material in a very efficient way.

[0026] The water nozzle 7 is protected against by the injector head, but CaO mixed with water may build up in the powder nozzle 6a. This may be avoided by shutting down the introduction of CaO and air into the powder nozzle before stopping introduction of water through the water nozzle 7.

[0027] After injecting through one hole, the injector is inserted into another bore hole and the injection procedure repeated. This is repeated until the grave is fully treated, i.e. that all the CaO intended the treatment is used.

[0028] The CaO powder used for the treatment is normally a 0,0 to 0,10 mm fraction of crushed CaO. The compressed air used for injection, is preferably between 2.8 and 3.2 bar, at about 3 to 6 m ³ /minute. The high-pressure water is preferably injected at a pressure of 300 to 2000 bar. The amount of CaO to water injected is optimally about 1:3, by weight. The injected weight of CaO injected into a normal single grave is normally about 70 kg, based on an average body weight of a corps of 70 kg. about 50% more is introduced into a double grave. Normally, 7 injection holes are drilled and used for injection, which means about 10 kg injected per injection hole in a single grave, and aboutl5 kg per hole in a double grave.

[0029] The skilled person will understand that even though the invention is described with reference to treatment of graves, the present method may also be used for treatment of buried cadavers of animals or waste rich in organic materials which have not been properly decomposed or composted. Examples on situations where the present method may be used are situations where a large number of animals are emergency slaughtered, such as the slaughtering of mink in Denmark due to Covid- 19, or cows due to BCE, and the animals are buried in mass graves. The skilled person will understand that the amount of CaO for treatment of buried animal cadavers or organic waste, has to be calculated based on the total mass of buried organic material to be treated.

[0030] The skilled person will also understand that the stem of the present injector comprising two pipes coaxially arranged might be substituted by different solutions to give two independent channels for CaO and air, and water, respectively. The important aspect of the present injector is the nozzles 6a, 7 for CaO and air, and water, respectively, which are coaxially arranged with the high-pressure water nozzle 7 arranged inside of the powder nozzle 6a, and that the two nozzles are directed perpendicular to the length axis of the injector.