Biocides usually persist during municipal sewage treatment and are subsequently distributed into aquatic environments. To explore the capability of advanced oxidation processes for the rapid removal of biocides, we examined the total organic carbon (TOC) reduction of 4-chloro-3,5-dimethylphenol (PCMX) with a combination of UV/O(3). Moreover, the related important parameters, including the mass transfer coefficient and light utilization efficiency, in PCMX degradation were determined. The UV/O(3) experimental results showed a pronounced synergistic effect, leading to the nearly complete elimination of TOC within 75 min. Thus, the effect of operating variables was investigated as a function of pH, ozone dosage, bulk temperature and the initial concentration of PCMX. The efficiency of PCMX mineralization increased with an increase in ozone dose up to 3.1 gh(-1), and a decrease in the initial concentration from 250 to 100mg L(-1). The optimal pH value was 4.0, and the preferred bulk temperature was 20 degrees C on the basis of the influence of temperature on reaction rate and ozone solubility. The major aromatic intermediates identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry were 2,6-dimethylbenzene-1,4-diol, 2,6-dimethylbenzo-1,4-quinone, 2,6-bis(hydroxymethyl)benzo-1,4-quinone, and 2,6-dimethylbenzo-1,4-aldehyde. Quantitative determination of related carboxylic acid and inorganic anions was done by ion chromatography. On the basis of the identified reaction products, a possible degradation pathway for the UV/O(3) oxidation of PCMX in aqueous media is proposed.