Fat Removal during Acetone Dehydration and Defatting Phases of Plastination

Department of Medical Education, College of Medicine and Life Sciences University of Toledo, 3035 Arlington Avenue, Toledo, Ohio 43614. ABSTRACT: It is well known among plastinators that acetone is a good degreaser when used at room temperature. In fact, the dehydration process is achieved by using acetone at -25o C, followed by a degreasing process utilizing acetone or dichloromethane at room temperature. The objective of this study was to identify the rate and effectiveness that cold acetone (-25o C) has on fat removal during the dehydration process and to compare it with the defatting phase at room temperature. Samples were soaked in -25o C acetone for 21 days (3 baths of 100% acetone) and then 20o C for 21 days (3 baths of 100% acetone). Acetone was changed at 7-day intervals and the “Dirty”/used acetone was collected and total fat content was determined using a rotary evaporator. Over a 42-day period, the samples demonstrated a uniform pattern of decreasing fat extraction during dehydration. However, when degreasing was initiated, a sharp increase of extraction was observed which ended with a steep decline. These findings were supported by mirrored purity readings with an acetonometer. Rate of extraction was greatest during the first seven days of both phases. Dehydration yielded 17.9 % more fat extracted by weight when compared to the defatting phase. This study represents the first report that the dehydration phase may play a more important role in degreasing than the defatting phase itself. Using acetone purity readings with calculated k-values for average rate of extraction data points allows one to quantify and determine a “successful extraction of fat.”