In this work, we report a novel Mn2+-mediated Fenton-like process based on Fe(III)-NTA complex that is super-efficient at circumneutral pH range. Kinetics experiments showed that the presence of Mn2+ significantly enhanced the effectiveness of Fe(III)-NTA complex catalyzed Fenton-like reaction. The degradation rate constant of crotamiton (CRMT), a model compound, by the Fe(III)-NTA_Mn2+ Fenton-like process was at least 1.6 orders of magnitude larger than that in the absence of Mn2+. Other metal ions such as Ca2+, Mg2+, Co2+ and Cu2+ had no impacts or little inhibitory effect on the Fe(III)-NTA complex catalyzed Fenton-like reaction. The generation of hydroxyl radical (HO center dot) and superoxide radical anion (O-2(center dot-)) in the Fe(III)-NTA_Mn2+ Fenton-like process were suggested by radicals scavenging experiments. The degradation efficiency of CRMT was inhibited significantly (approximately 92%) by the addition of HO center dot scavenger 2-propanol, while the addition of O-2(center dot-) scavenger chloroform resulted in 68% inhibition. Moreover, the results showed that other chelating agents such as EDTA- and s,s-EDDS-Fe(III) catalyzed Fenton-like reactions were also enhanced significantly by the presence of Mn2+. The mechanism involves an enhanced generation of O-2(center dot-) from the reactions of Mn2+-chelates with H2O2, indirectly promoting the generation of HO center dot by accelerating the reduction rate of Fe(III)-chelates to Fe(II)-chelates. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.