In this study, photodegradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) in aerated aqueous solution at pH 13 in the presence of hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by polydivinylbenzene-supported zinc phthalocyanine (PDVB-ZnPc) prepared from chloromethylated polydivinylbenzene and zinc phthalocyanine via a Friedel-Crafts reaction has been investigated. The reaction intermediates were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The reactive oxygen species involved in the reaction were determined by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique. Based on the experimental results obtained, PDVB-ZnPc was found to be effective for removing and mineralizing the toxic 2,4-DCP in aqueous solution. The removal yield amounted to 98% after 4 h of irradiation. The reaction followed pseudo-first-order kinetics, and was well fitted into the Langmuir-Hinshelwood-type equation. The optimal concentration of PDVB-ZnPc was 1.0 g1. The reaction intermediates were some biodegradable organic acids which were subsequently mineralized to CO32- and Cl- in alkaline solution. Hydroxyl radical and superoxide anion radical other than singlet oxygen were probably generated during the photodegradation of 2,4-DCP in our reaction system. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.