Slurry Treatment

Hydrogen Peroxide Treatment

Stored slurry can emit up to 30 % of farm methane emissions.
Hydrogen peroxide treatment stops gases forming and boosts nitrogen retention.

See impact

The Climate Issue

Slurry storage is one of the hidden emission hotspots on a dairy farm. Even before spreading, bacteria in slurry tanks convert carbon into methane and turn nitrogen into ammonia gas. These losses reduce fertiliser value and pollute the atmosphere.

Methane is over 25 times more potent than CO₂, and ammonia contributes to poor air quality and nitrous oxide formation in soils. Left untreated, slurry can leak both. Storing for weeks or months increases the risk. Every bubble that escapes is a missed opportunity.

The Solution: Slurry Storage

Hydrogen peroxide treatment is a novel approach to stabilising slurry. By adding small amounts of H₂O₂ to slurry during early storage, microbial activity is reduced, and emissions are suppressed.

This treatment oxidises the slurry environment, halting methane-forming bacteria and reducing ammonia volatilisation. It also encourages nitrogen to stay in ammonium form, making it more available to crops.

Initial trials show H₂O₂-treated slurry can reduce methane emissions by up to 80 % and nearly eliminate ammonia losses during storage. That means less air pollution and more nutrient value in every litre.

Unlock Farm-Level Impact

Key Benefits when Stabilising Slurry

Cut Emissions

Hydrogen peroxide limits both methane and ammonia release by disrupting the microbial pathways responsible for gas formation, especially during the early storage period.

Nutrient Value

More nitrogen remains in a plant-ready form. This improves slurry’s fertiliser performance and reduces the need for additional synthetic inputs later in the season.

More Value

Treated slurry smells less, handles more easily, and delivers stronger results in fields. That means a cleaner environment and more consistent grass growth over time.

Impact of Slurry Treatment

Hydrogen peroxide-based slurry treatment offers a targeted way to reduce emissions from dairy farms by acting directly at the source, during storage.

Applied correctly, it reduces methane and ammonia without requiring changes to tanks or spreading equipment, though the additive cost remains a barrier without financial support.

Trials on Irish dairy farms show H₂O₂ treatment can:

Reduce methane by up to 80 % during storage
Cut ammonia losses by nearly 100 %
Retain 4–8 kg more nitrogen per 1,000 gal of slurry
Lower whole-farm GHG intensity by 2–4 % at full adoption

The impact below is based on farm-scale modelling in Irish pasture-based systems.

Scenario	GHG Emissions	% GHG Reduction
0% Adoption	0.960 kg CO₂-eq/kg milk	0% kg CO₂-eq/kg milk
50% Adoption	0.936 kg CO₂-eq/kg milk	2.5% kg CO₂-eq/kg milk
100% Adoption	0.922 kg CO₂-eq/kg milk	4% kg CO₂-eq/kg milk

Jump to research

Considerations

Emerging Technology

Hydrogen peroxide treatment is still new and not yet widespread. While early trials are promising, long-term data is still limited. Adoption will depend on wider testing and farmer experience.

Safety & Handling

Peroxide must be handled with care. Dosing equipment and storage containers must be designed for safe use. Staff must be trained in dilution and application during early storage stages.

Timing & Conditions

Treatment works best if applied within the first days of storage. Delayed application reduces impact. Tanks must be clean, and agitation should be minimised during the treatment window.

Implementation

Adding H₂O₂ to your slurry management system is relatively easy, but timing and safety are essential. These simple steps can help you get started with confidence.

1. Set up dosing system. Work with a supplier to install small-scale peroxide dosing at the point of slurry entry or mixing zone.

2. Train for safety. Ensure all operators wear protective equipment and understand peroxide concentration, dilution, and safe application timing.

3. Treat early. Add hydrogen peroxide shortly after the slurry enters the tank. Ideally, within 24–48 hours to suppress microbes before they build up.

Behind the Research

ODOS Tech was founded by Cian White and Alejandro Vergara, two sustainability specialists with deep expertise in agricultural climate action.

Alejandro (left), a PhD in environmental engineering from University College Dublin, helps farmers measure their carbon footprint and implement mitigation strategies to reduce their impact. Cian (right), a researcher at Trinity College Dublin with a PhD in ecology, works on restoring nature to increase biodiversity on farms using satellite imagery to monitor habitats.

Together, they helped lead the carbon and nature-based work for the Farm Zero C project at Shinagh Farm, one of Europe’s first net-zero dairy pilots. In 2020, they launched ODOS, a platform that built smart, science-based tools to help agri-food businesses protect the environment and restore nature.

Research

Shinagh Farm Case Study

Field trials at Shinagh Dairy Farm showed that peroxide treatment during the first 56 days of storage cut methane by 80 % and eliminated nearly all ammonia loss. Treated slurry retained more nitrogen and led to improved pasture growth.

Teagasc Slurry Research

Early research highlights hydrogen peroxide as a potential low-cost treatment that complements other mitigation tools like LESS. It shows strong promise in Irish pasture systems with long slurry storage periods.

Innovation Outlook

While still in development, H₂O₂ treatment aligns with circular nutrient strategies. It could help farms meet tighter emission rules, enhance nitrogen efficiency, and reduce reliance on synthetic fertilisers over time.