Triclosan (TCS) is a broad-spectrum antibacterial agent widely used in many personal care products. We investigated oxidation of TCS by aqueous ferrate Fe(VI) to determine reaction kinetics, interpreted the reaction mechanism by a linear free-energy relationship, and evaluated the degradation efficiency. Second-order reaction kinetics was used to model Fe (VI) oxidation of TCS, with the apparent second-order rate constant (k(app)) being 531.9 L x (mol x s)(-1) at pH 8.5 and (24 +/- 1) degrees C. The half life (t1/2) is 25.8 s for an Fe( VI) concentration of 10 mg x L(-1). The rate constants of the reaction decrease with increasing pH values. These pH-dependent variations in k(app) could be distributed by considering species-specific reactions between Fe(VI) species and acid-base species of an ionizable TCS. Species-specific second-order reaction rate constants, k, were determined for reaction of HFeO4(-) with each of TCS's acid-base species. The value of k determined for neutral TCS was (4.1 +/- 3.5) x 10(2) L x (mol x s)(-1), while that measured for anionic TCS was (1.8 +/- 0.1) x 10(4) L x (mol x s)(-1). The reaction between HFeO4(-) and the dissociated TCS controls the overall reaction. A linear free-energy relationship illustrated the electrophilic oxidation mechanism. Fe (VI) reacts initially with TCS by electrophilic attack at the latter's phenol moiety. At a n[Fe(VI)]: n(TCS) > 7: 1, complete removal of TCS was achieved. And lower concentration of the humic acid could enhance the k(app) of Fe( VI) with TCS. In conclusion, Fe(VI) oxidation technology appears to be a promising tool for applications of WWTPs effluents and other decontamination processes.