The efficiency and mechanism of catalytic ozonation of 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA) by metal oxide modified bauxite were studied. TCA was effectively degraded by catalytic ozonation in the presence of iron-or manganese-modified bauxite (IMB or MMB). The effect of water pH on catalytic ozonation indicated that surface property was the key factor that influenced the activity of catalyst. Analysis results of the isoelectric point (IEP) and zeta potential for catalyst further confirmed that a lower zeta potential for modified bauxite enhanced catalytic activity. Results of both catalytic ozone decomposition and radical scavengers experiments indicated that catalytic ozonation by IMB or MMB followed a hydroxyl radical ((OH)-O-center dot) reaction pathway. The main reaction pathway was proposed that adsorption of both ozone and TCA in the micropores and subsequent interaction (direct and indirect oxidation) between them that was confirmed by the analysis of the surface pore volume and surface hydroxyl groups, being followed by the diffusion of ozone and TCA on the mesoporous surface, in which surface hydroxyl groups covering mesoporous surface initialed ozone decomposition to generate (OH)-O-center dot, resulted in TCA degradation. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.