Catechol is one of the most abundant phenolic components of olive mill wastewaters. In this article, the mineralization of this compound in synthetic aqueous solutions by the Fenton and photo-Fenton processes is studied. It has been found that for 1.44 mM catechol, the total organic carbon of solutions is reduced about 94.4% at best after 60 min of Fenton treatment at optimized conditions of pH 3.0, 0.2 mM Fe 2þ , 7.09 mM H 2 O 2 , and 258C. A faster and overall mineralization is attained by applying photo-Fenton with UVA irradiation. o-Benzoquinone, 1,2,3-trihydroxybenzene and 1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene were identified by GC-MS as primary quinonic and polyhydroxylated derivatives. Small amounts of generated carboxylic acids like muconic, maleic, malonic, acetic, oxalic, and formic acids were detected by ion-exclusion chromatography. The Fe(III) complexes of these acids persist in the medium under Fenton conditions, while their photolysis by UVA light and that of other by-products account for by the faster degradation and total mineralization achieved in the photo-Fenton process. A reaction sequence for catechol mineralization by Fenton and photo-Fenton involving all intermediates detected is proposed.Abbreviations: AOPs, advanced oxidation processes; TOC, total organic carbon 878