Cathode and process for degrading halogenated carbon compounds in aqueous solvents

In a process for degrading wastes comprising one or more halogenated carbon compounds by the steps of providing an electrolyte cell comprising an anode, a cathode, and a source of oxygen, and impressing a voltage across said anode and cathode sufficient to reduce said oxygen at said cathode to superoxide ion, wherein the improvement comprises degrading said halogenated carbon compounds in an electrolyte comprising by volume from about 1 to 99 percent water by contacting said electrolyte with said cathode which consists essentially of an electrically conducting substrate and a heterogeneous coating said coating of which completely covers the surface of said substrate comprising two coats a and b, coat a is in contact with said substrate and containing superoxide catalyst and coat b is in contact with the electrolyte and with covering power for coat a and comprising ion exchange material.