A new approach on heterogeneous electro-Fenton of winery wastewater was investigated. The high organic load and the dependence on the wine industry period makes necessary to find an appropriate treatment able to efficiently reduce the environmental risk of this waste. For this purpose, the electro-Fenton process was improved by searching different catalyst supports (manganese alginate gel beads (Mn-AB); iron alginate gel beads (Fe-AB) and iron loaded activated carbon (Fe-AC)) and evaluating the applied potential difference effect. Fe-AC attained a fast decolorization and high degradation results at 15 V. To further understand the main degradation mechanisms on this new catalyst, the contribution of the HO center dot generated in solution and on the anode surface was analyzed. In addition, the positive effect of nickel foam on an extra input of H2O2 production through the generation of O-center dot(2) and its effect on the treatment were proved. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.