The Sandia decontamination (decon) technology is a safe, effective, easy-to-use disinfectant that helps people overcome many of the hazards of today's dangerous world.

The decon technology handles biological and chemical threats, including emerging infectious diseases, clandestine drug labs, mold, fungi, viruses, and bacteria. It is a two- or three-part system consisting of hydrogen peroxide with surfactants and activators that can be used as a safe and highly efficient decontamination solution.

Originally used by the military and first responders, it has now found a growing number of applications in industrial, institutional, and military markets. When one of the two original small licensees went out of business, it could easily have been the end of the licensing road for the decon technology. Instead, diligence and creative thinking gave the technology new life, far beyond its original limited applications.

After just a couple of years, seven new licensees are manufacturing and distributing products based on the Sandia patents.

Through hard work and creativity, the Sandia team promoted the decontamination technology to new markets, worked with qualified companies who could license and commercialize it, and adapted it for new products, applications, and methods of deployment. After just a couple of years, seven new licensees are manufacturing and distributing products based on the Sandia patents.

Through tailoring of the chemistry, deployment methods and packaging, the decontamination products based on Sandia's patents are now available for use in a much wider variety of applications, and are providing new ways to disinfect medical facilities, agricultural processing plants, sports facilities, and housing. Focused chemistries allow production costs to be reduced for higher volume applications such as commercial laundry disinfection. New deployment methods such as charged aerosols will enable rapid decontamination of spaces such as aircraft and transportation centers.

Our dangerous world has become a little safer because of the Sandia decon technology. With additional licensees and manufacturers in place, the technology is now widely available to serve an abundance of civilian and military needs, making our nation better able to face both natural disasters and accidental events.