Emulsified solvents in water can be used to dissolve and wash-off CW agents from equipment. When decontaminating by washing, consideration must be taken to the poisonous substance remaining in the decontaminant unless the CW agent has first been destroyed. The penetration ability of a CW agent can be enhanced when mixed with solvent. Today, there is an international development towards chemically resistant paints and materials, which implies that water-based methods will become more effective. However, the need for penetrating decontamination methods will remain for many years.
Detergents containing perborates are particularly effective in destroying nerve agents.
Without an addition of perborates in the detergent, the hydrolysis products of V-agents may still remain toxic unless the pH is sufficiently high. Mustard agent is encapsulated by the detergent and, consequently, the hydrolysis rate decreases in comparison with clean water. However, the low solubility of mustard agent makes it difficult to remove without the addition of detergent, but the water used will still contain undestroyed mustard agent. CW agents which have penetrated into the soil, from where they release toxic vapour, are screened-off since the gas and liquid is destroyed by the chlorinated lime. The physical screening-off of CW agents by covering them can be done in the terrain by spreading a layer of soil or gravel over the contaminated area.