content_image/945419.jpg content_image/945420.jpg content_image/945421.jpg
present and future known equivalents to the components referred to herein by way of illustration. 

[0121] The invention is based upon several axioms of the inventor’s general model of chemical and/or biological decontamination. First, the decontamination formulation should be able to sufficiently dissolve full chemical threat loads (See Table 4, below) in an isotropic homogenous solu› tion. Second, the decontamination formulations should pref› erably be able to dissolve sufficient amounts of one or more reactive oxygen species or their sources in the isotropic solu› tion, where the reactive oxygen species can react with the dissolved toxant to reduce a chemical ofbiological threat load to a substantially harmless level. Third, the volume ratio for neutralizing threat loads generally determines the reaction rate and logistical footprint and should preferably be less than 50:1 decontaminant to toxant. Fourth, the decontaminant should be a low viscosity fluid, at least under dynamic shear, which is both fluid and effective against a chemical or bio› logical agent over a temperature range from about -25° F. to about 125° F. Fifth, the decontaminant should preferably remain in contact with the toxant long enough to substantially complete perhydrolysis by, for example, having a sufficiently high viscosity on a surface. Sixth, an effective decontamina› tion solution for chemical agents should preferably be able to reduce chemical agents to one or more harmless by-products. Finally, a deployable chemical and biological decontaminant should preferably meet and, if possible, exceed CFR49, DOT and DoD transport requirements, NIOSH and EPA ESHO requirements, DOD material compatibility requirements, and all needs for ease of transport and storage, ease and safety of use, ease of clean-up, safe disposal, material compatibility and biodegradability. 

[0122] In addition, a deployable chemical and biological decontaminant should meet, and if possible, exceed the United States Government and Military guidelines for decon› tamination of chemical and biological warfare agents. See Tables 3 and 4 below. Specifically, the Joint Program Execu› tive Office (JPEO) for chemical and biological defense has listed the following guidelines for VX, GD, and HD (nerve agents) and biological agents, such as Anthrax. 

<img src='content_image/945419.jpg'>

<img src='content_image/945420.jpg'>

<img src='content_image/945421.jpg'>

[0123] In certain embodiments of the invention, an organic/ aqueous solution comprises at least one polar amphipathic organic solvent, which can be water-soluble and selected from one or more of the groups consisting of solvents given in Table 2, including: Group I solvents, which comprise nitriles or other polar aprotic solvents that contain no oxygen; Group II solvents, which comprise alkanols or other polar, mono› protic solvents that contain one -OH moiety; Group III solvents, which comprise aldehydes, ketones, ethers, or other polar, aprotic solvents that contain oxygen but cannot donate a proton; and Group IV polyprotic solvents and solutes, which comprise polyols, and/or solvents designated hybrids because they share properties of several groups, such as 2-bu› toxyethanol. 

[0124] The volume fraction of water in such organic/aque› ous solutions can preferably range from about 25% to about 80% or from about 25% to about 75% and the final solution pH can preferably have a value less than or equal to about 8.5. In certain embodiments of the invention organic/aqueous solutions further comprise at least one reactive oxygen spe› cies or at least one oxidizing agent. Suitable reactive oxygen species include, but are not limited to, peroxides and peroxy› carboxylic acids; suitable oxidizers include but are not lim› ited to hydroxyl radicals, hydroxyl ions, hydronium ions, hydroperoxide anions, superoxides, ozone, hydroperoxide anions, peroxyacid anions, such as peroxyacetic anion or peroxyoctanoic anion, and/or singlet oxygen. Alternatively, the pH can be maintained at less than or equal to about 8.0. The invention is active against all agents as pH values between about 7.0 to about 10.5; the buffer capacity is more effective at pH values between about 8.0 to about 9.0. How› ever, for maximum active life, the preferred embodiment is maintained a pH values from about 8.0 to about 8.5. The pH can further be maintained at a pH of about 8.5. 

[0125] The method of the invention contains a series of steps. These steps include providing a solution comprising 

