Copper(II) or cobalt(II)/ligand/hydrogen peroxide systems were used for degradation of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes (BTEX), and polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons. The most efficient systems were Cu/glucaric acid/H2O2 and CU/D-arabinono-1,4-lactone/H2O2 for the degradation of BTEX. All compounds were completely degraded within 1 h. Co/ascorbic acid/H2O2 system was the most effective for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) degradation. More than 95% of anthracene, pyrene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene and dibenzo[a,h]anthracene were degraded during a 1 h incubation at 22 degreesC. Oxidation of anthracene led to the formation of 9, 10-anthracenedione, 1,4-anthracenedione, and phthalic acid. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.