EXPERIENCE WITH CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF EMBALMING SOLUTION FOR LONG-TERM BODY PRESERVATION OF PROFESSOR N.I. PIROGOV

• Authors: BEZIČKOVÁ Marcela; PRODANCHUK G. Mykola; MELNYK P. Oleg; HRYNKO P Alla; FRIŠHONS Jan; PROKEŠ Lubomír; PŘÍHODA Jiří
• Year of publication: 2022
• Type: Conference abstract
• MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Science
• Description: Embalmed body of anatomist and surgeon Professor N.I. Pirogov(1810-1881) has been maintained in a very good condition since 1881. The method of long-term preservation of biological tissues using formaldehyde, ethanol, glycerine, potassium acetate and other components was developed by Professor Melnikow-Raswedenkow.In 2011, the body was re-embalmed with an experimental embalming solution from the VILAR laboratory in Moscow. In 2018, embalming was carried out by Ukrainian experts. The original embalming solution was taken from the interior of the overall in which thebody of N. I. Pirogov has been placed in the sarcophagus. Analysis of the previous solution composition has been essential to evaluate the effectiveness of the solution and the state of embalmed tissues. Collected embalming solution was further examined by NMR and GC MS spectros-copy. NMR spectroscopy confirmed the declared composition of the embalming solution, GC MS spectroscopy revealed the presence of fatty acids that entered the solution by hydrolysis of fats from the embalmed body. The identificationof fatty acids was performed based on their derivatization. The results of the analyses and visual inspection of the body during re-embalming showed the optimal properties of the solution and the level of preservation and the body condition.