Rates of hydrogen peroxide decomposition were investigated in soils slurries. The interaction soil-hydrogen peroxide was studied using a slurry system at 20 degrees C and pH 7. To determine the role of soil organic matter (SOM) in the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, several experiments were carried out with two soils with different SOM content (S1 = 15.1%. S2 = 10%). The influence of the oxidant dosage ([H2O2](o) from 10 to 30gL(-1) and soil weight to liquid phase volume ratio = 500 g L-1) was investigated using the two calcareous loamy sand soil samples. The results showed a rate dependency on both SOM and hydrogen peroxide concentration being the H2O2 decomposition rate over soil surface described by a second-order kinetic expression r(H2O2) = -dn(H2O2)/W(SOM)dt = kC(H2O2)C(SOM). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was used to evaluate the effect caused by the application of this oxiclanton theSOM content. Itwasfound aslightly increase of SOM content after treatment with hydrogen peroxide, probably due to the incorporation of oxygen from the oxidant (hydrogen peroxide). (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.