(a) tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium sulfate (THPS) (b) water and (c) methanol wherein the weight percentages of (a), (b) and (c) are within the area on a ternary phase diagram for (a), (b) and (c) bounded by four points: (A) 5% THPS/58% water/37% methanol (B) 5% THPS/36% water/59% methanol (C) 65% THPS/27% water/8% methanol and (D) 65% THPS/29% water/6% methanol.