Not A Geoengineering Solution To Solve Climate Emergency: The Problem With Oxidizing Atmospheric Methane Using Hydrogen Peroxide

University of Utah atmospheric scientists Alfred W. Mayhew and Jessica D. Haskins were suspicious of the proposed solution of releasing and using hydrogen peroxide to oxidize atmospheric methane. This skepticism was expressed in an experiment that tested the proposal. Their findings were published in a January 2025 article that appeared in the journal Environmental Science Technology of the American Chemical Society.

Procedure and Findings

• A global chemical transport model was used to simulate the effects of emitting hydrogen peroxide to enhance hydroxy radical levels and accelerate methane oxidation.

• Results revealed that the oxidant emissions have minimal effects on monthly average concentrations of ozone and particulate matter globally.

• 50 towers could reduce only 0.01 percent of annual methane emissions. Removing 50 percent of methane emissions will require 352000 towers.

• A large-scale deployment would be necessary to meaningfully reduce methane levels. This could significantly increase particulate matter in certain regions during winter.

Implications

The oxidation process is not isolated. It competes with other atmospheric chemical reactions. This competition can reduce the effectiveness of methane oxidation and lead to unintended side effects like the creation of secondary pollutants such as ozone and particulate matter. This is the main issue behind the proposed atmospheric methane oxidation.

Mayhew and Haskins showed that using and releasing hydrogen peroxide in the atmosphere reflects the aforementioned challenge. Their study and specific findings underscored the complexity of atmospheric chemistry and the need to carefully assess not only the effectiveness and efficiency but also the unintended consequences of geoengineering proposals.

FURTHER READING AND REFERENCE

  • Mayhew, A. W., and Haskins, J. D. 2025. “Potential Air Quality Side-Effects of Emitting H2O2 to Enhance Methane Oxidation as a Climate Solution.” In Environmental Science Technology 59(1): 679–688) American Chemical Society. DOI: 1021/acs.est.4c11697