LaTi1-xCuxO3 perovskites are efficient catalysts for the oxidation of aqueous solutions of phenol using hydrogen peroxide as precursor of free radicals. The catalytic results have shown that under mild reaction conditions and oxidant contents lower than stoichiometric, phenol was rapidly removed with a final total organic carbon (TOC) conversion of ca. 90%. Initial rate of TOC removal depends dramatically on temperature, catalyst loading and peroxide concentration. Perovskite catalyst after reaction is completely regenerated by calcination and retains a similar catalytic performance. Finally, the catalytic results demonstrate that leaching of active species during the catalytic oxidation seems to proceed by a complex mechanism in which the presence of hydrogen peroxide in combination with phenol plays an essential role. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.