The atmospheric chemistry of hydrogen peroxide: a review

This paper reviews the atmospheric chemistry of hydrogen peroxide, taking into account the formation processes of both gas-phase and aqueous H2O2, and the reactions involving hydrogen peroxide in the gas phase and in atmospheric hydrometeors. Gas-phase hydrogen peroxide mainly forms upon dismutation of the hydroperoxyl radical, a product of the reactions between atmospheric hydrocarbons, hydroxyl radicals, nitric oxide, and oxygen. Aqueous hydrogen peroxide originates from the dissolution of the gaseous one, the reduction of molecular oxygen, a series of reactions involving dissolved ozone, and the irradiation of anthraquinones, aromatic carbonyls, and semiconductor oxides. The reactions involving aqueous H2O2 are very important in the context of the chemistry of the atmosphere. They include oxidation of S(IV) to S(VI), photolysis, the Fenton reaction in the presence of Fe(II), and possibly the formation of peroxynitrous acid. Within this framework, the correlation of hydrogen peroxide with other atmospheric components and the time trends of hydrogen peroxide in the atmosphere are easily accounted for.