Pure glycerin is widely used for conservation of anatomical parts, which is very efficient and not toxic to the handlers. Nevertheless pure glycerin is extremely expensive and unaffordable for many anatomy laboratories. The purpose of the study was to demonstrate the viability of semi-purified glycerin from biodiesel production for preservation of anatomical parts. Fifteen hearts and 30 kidneys from pigs were studied. The glycerin from a biodiesel plant had the following composition: 80.5% glycerol, 12.8% humidity, 6.3% NaCl and 0.4% fatty acids. The organs were measured, analyzed and photographed before and after preservation protocol. The semi-purified glycerin caused no reduction in the dimensions of anatomical structures (mass, height and width) of statistical difference. Characteristics of consistency and flexibility of the anatomical parts was preserved. Additionally the costs and the production of toxic gases were reduced. The main achievement of this study was preservation of the morphological characteristics and improvement of the teaching and learning process.
Semipurified glycerin; conservation; biodiesel; anatomical parts
