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Bisphenol A (BPA), a precursor to important plastics, is regarded as a common aquatic micropollutant with endocrine-disrupting activity. In the present study, we explored the capability of a UV KrCl excilamp (222 nm) to degrade BPA by a photo-Fenton-like process using persulfate under flow-through conditions. The first-order rate constants of degradation were obtained and the mineralization of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was estimated. The results showed complete BPA degradation and high DOC mineralization (70–97%). A comparative analysis of degradation rates and DOC removal in the examined systems (UV, Fe2+/S2O82−, UV/S2O82− and UV/Fe2+/S2O82−) revealed a significant synergistic effect in the photo-Fenton-like system (UV/Fe2+/S2O82−) without the accumulation of toxic intermediates. This indicated that the BPA was oxidized via the conjugated radical chain mechanism, which was based on the photo-induced and catalytic processes involving HO• and SO4−• radicals. The primary intermediates of BPA degradation in the UV/Fe2+/S2O82− system were identified by HPLC/MS and the oxidation pathway was proposed. The high performance of the photo-Fenton-like process employing a quasi-monochromatic UV radiation of a KrCl excilamp offers promising potential for an efficient removal of such micropollutants from aqueous media.

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The paper demonstrates the possibility of using UV radiation of KrCl excilamps to activate persulfate (PS) in advanced oxidation processes. The model compound—the dye Orange III—is subjected to treatments involving UV radiation, persulfate, and/or ferrous ion, alone or in combinations. According to Orange III oxidation efficiency, the tested oxidative systems can be arranged in the following order: PS/UVex/Fe2+ > PS/UVex > PS/Fe2+ > UVex > PS. Furthermore, the energy efficiencies of the oxidative systems enhanced by UV radiation from a KrCl excilamp (222 nm) and a low‐pressure mercury lamp (254 nm) are compared. The highest energy efficiency and mineralization are achieved by activating persulfate with a combination of a transition metal (Fe2+) and UV radiation of a KrCl excilamp.