May 3, 2012  11  US 2012/0108878 Al  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.  [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  TABLE3  TABLE4  TABLE 4-continued  TOXANT  Percent Reduction  Log Reduction  Reduction ofToxant  vx  99.9995%  5.5 log  GD  99.95%  3.5 log  HD  99.4%  3.4 log  Anthrax  99.9999%  6 log  Reduction ofToxant  Contact Exposure Level Goals (mg/m 2 ):  Starting Threat Load of 10 g/m $^{2 }$(at -25°  F. :"’ T :"’ 125°  F.)  (Surface Decontamination)  Level  Nerve G  NerveV  Blister H  DTRA/JPEO- <1.7  <0.04  <3.0  Threshold  DTRA/JPEO- 0  0  0  Objective  Reduction ofToxant  Vapor Level Goals (mg/m 3 ):  Starting Threat Load of 10 g/m $^{3 }$(at -25°  F. :"’ T :"’ 125°  F.  (Aerosol Decontamintation)  Level  DTRA/JPEO› Threshold  DTRA/JPEO› Objective  Nerve G  Nerve V  <0.000870  <0.000036  <0.00020  <0.000024  Residual Levels of Biological Agents:  Blister H  <0.0058  <0.0030  Starting Threat Load >10$^{8 }$Spores/m$^{2 }$(at-25°  F. :"’ T :"’ 125°  F.)  Level  DTRA/JPEO› Threshold  DTRA/JPEO› Objective  Bacterial Endospores  Vegetative Bacteria  Viruses  <100  <10  <10  0  0  0  Chemical/Biological Requirements (Aerosol Cloud)  (at -25°  F. :"’ T :"’ 125°  F.)  Level  DARPA› Objective  Chemical (VX, G, others)  4 log  Bacteria/Viruses  4log 