TiO2/UV/O-3-BAC (biological activated carbon) process was employed to treat raw water and compared to UV/O-3-BAC process in its optimum parameters (3 mg/L ozone dosage with 15 min oxidation time and 15 min empty bed contact time in BAC). The results showed that the presence of TiO2 improved ozone utilization and biodegradability of the effluent. For the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removal, TiO2/UV/O-3-BAC was more efficient than UV/O-3-BAC and its synergetic effect is more than that in UV/O-3-BAC process. It was showed that small molecules with MW < 3000 Da predominated in the raw water accounting for more than 56% DOC, they were increased after oxidation, accounting for more than 64% DOC. GC/MS analysis showed that TiO2/UV/O-3-BAC process was effective in removing phthalate esters (PAEs) and persistent organic pollutants (POPs). PAEs' removal ratio reached more than 94% and reduced with the increase of the length of the alkyl side chains and the alkyl branch chains. TiO2/UV/O-3-BAC process was also very effective in removing POPs. Polybromobiphenyls' removal rate reached more than 89% and decreased with the increase of substitutional bromines except for 2,2',5,5'-tetrabromobiphenyl, which can be completely removed. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.