The degradation of phenolic and polyphenolic compounds present in a bleaching ECF effluent for different advanced oxidation systems is described. Photocatalysis with O-2/ZnO/UV, O-2/TiO2/UV were demonstrated to be the best sytems to oxidize the effluent in a short period of time. The homogeneous systems O-3 and O-3/UV also degrade the organic matter but at a lower extent considering the same time of reaction. Reactions were monitored by color changes, pH, COD and BOD. (C) 1997 IAWQ. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.