Abstract: The invention relates to a process and an installation for the destruction of organic solutes, particularly complexing agents, present in an aqueous solution such as a radioactive effluent.According to this process, the aqueous solution undergoes electrolysis in a cell (1) comprising a working electrode (5.sub.1, 5.sub.2, etc.) by applying to said electrode an adequate potential for destroying the solutes by electrolytic oxidation and periodic modification takes place to the potential applied or to the passage direction of the current passing through the cell so as to periodically carry out a regeneration of the working electrode.The solutes can be organic acids such as formic acid, dihydroxymalonic acid or oxalic acid.