Graphical Abstract2 Highlights  Cavitation induced by the impact of a solid piston on liquid surface  Shock-waves of several bars amplitude exciting a wide frequency range  Phenol degradation initiated at ambient temperature and absence of oxidants  High phenol mineralization extents measured upon H2O2 addition  Accelerated active radical formation in the presence of shock-induced cavitation AbstractShock-induced cavitation phenomena, resulting from the propagation of the trail of shockwaves generated upon the impact of a solid piston on a liquid surface, was used as an innovative way of intensifying the oxidation of phenol in aqueous media. The amount of energy communicated by the impact was found to be proportional to the impact height, and was directly related to the maximal pressure attained, i.e. in the order of several tens of bars. This peak was followed by a rarefaction period that results in the origination of several cavitation phenomena, which continued upon piston rebound and further shock-wave generation and propagation. The multi-frequency nature of shock-induced cavitation, capable of exciting a wide range of frequencies between 1 kHz and 100 kHz, was confirmed by means of wavelet analysis. Under shock-induced cavitation conditions, phenol degradation was found to be possible even in the absence of any oxidizing agent. High extents of mineralization, i.e. 45.3 and 56.2% TOC elimination, 50 mg/L solution, neutral pH, were obtained in the presence of H2O2 (aprox. 10% vol.), pointing to an acceleration of the oxidation reaction based in a faster and more efficient creation of radical species.