The removal Of Organic pollutants from a highly complex industrial wastewater by aluminum, iron and aluminium + iron electrocoagulation systems was evaluated. Under optimal conditions of pH 8 and 45.45 A m(-2) Current density. the electrochemical method yields a very effective reduction of all organic pollutants. The optimal treatment (aluminum + iron) reduced chemical oxygen demand (COD) by 69%, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) by 71%. color by 83%. turbidity by 80% and total coliforms by 99%. The raw and treated wastewater was characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry to confirm the increase in water quality. Finally, the Sludge produced during electrocoagulation was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDS). (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.