The first "green solvent," was developed by a team of chemists from the University of Buffalo, the University of Texas, the University of Nottingham, and the University of Colorado. It was a microemulsion, and it was made of water, an alternative form of carbon dioxide, and a flourinated surfactant. A flourinated surfactant is composed of multiple flourine atoms, and is used to lower the surface tension of water. This particular surfactant was one that is typically used as a blood substitute.
This solvent was unique because it was composed of water as well as carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is also a naturally preferable solvent, since it is not dangerous and is in abundantly available. However, water and proteins cannot be dissolved in carbon dioxide alone, which created the need for the other ingredients listed above.
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