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[0189] In order to solubilize and decontaminate chemical and biological agents, hydrogen bonds in the solution must be broken. At first glance then, it might appear desirable to prepare the decontamination solution using organic solvents having weaker hydrogen bonds. Of the four isomers of butanediol, however, it is one of the novel discoveries of the present invention that the oxygens of 1,3-butanediol have higher pKa values compared to the other butanediol isomers, enabling the use of this isomer with a different buffer system, and hence a different type of chemical activation in creating a decontaminant formulation. This discovery has proven important to developing the preferred decontamination solu› tion and formulation. 

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[0190] The present invention is intended for use in com› merce, which means it must be safe to transport on commer- 

