The removal of low level inorganics electrogenerated hydrogen peroxide in via the presence of catalytic amounts of Fe2+

Low level phosphites and hypophosphites were completely converted into phos phates via hydrogen peroxide generated by cathodic reduction of oxygen in a cidic aqueous medium at a reticulated vitreous carbon electrode, in the pre sence of little amounts of Fe2+. The contemporary regeneration of Fe(2+)by cathodic reduction of Fe3+, produced by the well known Fenton reaction, fur nishes an excellent way to continuously produce little amounts of the Fento n reactive and, as a consequence, of the powerful oxidant hydroxyl radical HO.. The best conditions for the complete removal of phosphorous as phosphi tes and hypophosphites are reported.