This study presents a critical review on the application of magnetite-based catalysts to industrial wastewater decontamination by heterogeneous Fenton oxidation. The use of magnetic materials in this field started only around 2008 and continues growing increasingly year by year. The potential of these materials derives from their higher ability for degradation of recalcitrant pollutants compared to the conventional iron-supported catalysts due to the presence of both Fe(II) and Fe(III) species. In addition, their magnetic properties allow their easy, fast and inexpensive separation from the reaction medium. The magnetic materials applied up to now can be classified in three general groups: magnetic natural minerals, in-situ-produced magnetic materials and ferromagnetic nanoparticles. A survey of the catalysts investigated so far is presented paying attention to their nature and competitive features in terms of activity and durability. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.