A comprehensive experimental investigation has been made on removal of catechol from aqueous solution by advanced photo-oxidation with hydrogen peroxide in presence of UV light. The effect of different process parameters, such as initial substrate concentration, H2O2 to substrate concentration ratio, addition of a solid catalyst (ferrous sulfate) has been studied. It was found that initial rate of conversion of catechol was extremely high compared to the later part of the reaction. Conversion attained within around 10 min of reaction accounted for approximately 90-95 % of the conversion attained within 60 min of reaction. A kinetic model for degradation of catechol has been developed, which shows that the degradation reaction of catechol with LTV/H2O2 follows a pseudo second-order pathway. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.