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Decomposition Rate of Cadaver Shoulder: A Burial in Rubber Plantation
Soil under Tropical Climate
Lee Xin Pei
Supervisor: Dr. Siti Sofo binti Ismail
Bachelor of Science (Analytical and Environmental Chemistry)
School of Marine and Environmental Science
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu
Existing methods to estimate the postmortem interval (PMI) are known to produce
less accurate results in cases of longer death time. Therefore, an alternative forensic
tool is needed. This study is to investigate the potential of cadaveric lipids as burial
biomarkers. The pig fatty flesh was allowed to decompose in soil for 150 days of burial
interval. The associated soils were collected at different designated sampling points,
corresponding to the decomposition stages. Fatty flesh was removed and weighed.
Post-experimental pH was also measured. Soil lipids are extracted by using Modified
Bligh-Dyer Extraction method and analysed using Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionic
Detector. The decomposition rate was rapid at beginning and slowed down towards
the end of experiment. The soil pH increased from acidic to alkaline at beginning and
decreased acidic towards the completion of experiment. The lipid components
recovered from soils including palmitic (C16:0), stearic (C16:1) and oleic (C18:1) acids,
with presence of cholesterol. The lipid concentrations were observed and recorded.
The trend of these lipids throughout burial period indicated the potential of cadaveric
lipids as biomarkers which may aid in forensic investigation, particularly in estimating
PMI.
1946 | UMT UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH DAY 2018