p-type Ag2O semiconductor nanoparticle-loaded Al2O3 or Na2SiO3/Al2O3 powders used for detoxicating the surrogate of sulfur mustard of 2-chloro ethyl ethyl sulfide (C2H5SCH2CH2Cl, 2-CEES) were investigated. Different amounts of Ag2O and Na2SiO3 on catalyst supports were evaluated. Gas chromatography with a pulsed flame photometric detector (GC-PFPD) and gas chromatography coupled with a mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) were used to monitor and identify the catalytic reactions, together with reaction products analysis. The GC analyses showed that the decontamination of 2-CEES in isopropanol solvent for 15 min was above 82% efficiency for the 0.5% Na2SiO3/Al2O3 support deposited with a Ag2O content above 2.5%. 2-(ethylthio)ethanol and 2-(ethylthio)ethanoic acid were identified as the major products after catalytic reactions. The electronic holes dominating in p-type Ag2O is proposed to provide the key component and to initiate the catalytic reactions. The electronic hole-based detoxication mechanism is proposed. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.