The increasing contamination of water by industrial activities is one of the biggest problems of modern society, because water is essential for life and for domestic activities, agriculture and industry. Among the major organic pollutants found in aqueous solution can be mentioned phenol and its derivatives. These compounds are toxic to humans and aquatic species, even at low concentrations and are produced in considerable quantities in effluent of the steel industry, oil, resins, pulp and paper among others. This study aimed to investigate, within the techniques of advanced oxidation, the potential of metallic iron as a catalyst in the process for the degradation of phenol in industrial waste, using it for steel wool. The batch process was studied, simulating an effluent phenol concentration of 200mg / L, typical of these industries. We evaluated the pH conditions (5, 6, 7, 8 and 9), mass of steel wool (1, 2.5, 5 and 7 g), mass of hydrogen peroxide (1, 2 and 3g) and process temperature (25, 35 and 45 ° C). Analyses of the degradation of phenol, made by a spectrophotometer, with a specific methodology for this analysis showed a reduction of 98 percent of the initial concentration of pollutant at time of 120 minutes. The analysis of TOC (Total Organic Carbon) showed a mineralization of about 33 percent, as reported in the literature for this type of process. Thus, the use of metallic iron as a catalyst in water treatment and effluent is presented as a viable alternative in the degradation of this pollutant, due to its efficiency, in addition to low cost and operational simplicity.