A new bipolar electrocoagulation and electroflotation process was developed to treat laundry wastewater. In this new process, electrocoagulation and electroflotation were carried out simultaneously in a single reactor. The operating parameters such as initial pH, hydraulic residence time (HRT) and current density were investigated. The unique design of the reactor made it possible for the effective removal of turbidity, COD, phosphate and surfactant (MBAS) in a wide pH range (5-9) at a short HRT (5-10 min). The pilot scale tests (1.5 m(3)/h) were carried out successfully in three different places suggested that the bipolar electrocoagulation-electroflotation process was feasible for the treatment of laundry wastewater. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.