The chemistry of death - Adipocere degradation in modern graveyards

We therefore propose the existence of chemical pathway(s) for the degradation of adipocere under poikiloaerobic conditions. Possible (biogeo)chemical reaction chains include (1) the autoxidation of fatty acids enhanced by haemoglobin, methaemoglobin and haemin, (2) the use of alternative electron acceptors, which leads to the formation of H2S that then reacts abiotically with iron (from haemoglobin), rendering iron sulphide, and (3) the Maillard reaction. These findings are another step forward in understanding the chemistry of buried corpses.