The recalcitrant H-acid (1-amino-8-naphthol-3,6-disulfonic acid) in aqueous solution was oxidized by Fenton process, focusing on the relation of Fenton's reagent doses and degradation products. The experimental results showed that COD and TOC removals and biodegradability (BOD/COD ratio) of the solution increased with increasing Fenton's reagent doses. Over 80% COD can be removed and the biodegradability was improved significantly. It was found that major -SO3H and -NH2 groups in H-acid molecules were mineralized to SO42- and NH4+ ions during Fenton oxidation processes. H-acid degradation intermediates with benzene structures substituted by hydroxyl and/or carboxyl groups were identified by GC-MS. It was also found that short-chain fatty acids primarily oxalic acid were degradation products of H-acid by Fenton oxidation. Oxalic acid accumulated could account for approximately 60% of the residual TOC. The degradation pathway of H-acid was proposed based on above analyses in this work. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.