Catalytic wet peroxide oxidation of phenol over AlFe-pillared montmorillonites, with different iron contents, was carried out at room temperature, in a glass batch reactor, under constant airflow and halogen lamp, light. At lower concentration (0.5 mg phenol/100 cm(3) water) a phenol conversion of 100% was achieved independently of the iron content in pillared clay catalyst. However, at higher phenol concentration (5.0 mg phenol/100 cm(3) water) retardation of the catalyst activity was observed.