Remarkable enhancement of Fenton degradation at a wide pH range promoted by thioglycolic acid.

We report a strong acceleration of Fenton degradation as well as the expansion of its working pH range by using thioglycolic acid (TGA) to accelerate the Fe(iii)/Fe(ii) redox cycle. A rapid degradation of organic and microbial pollutants was realized in this novel system, using a catalytic amount of iron and TGA, under environmentally relevant conditions.