This study investigated the degradation of quinoline in the sulfate radical (SO₄^-·)-based advanced oxidation system introducing by Fe²⁺-activated persulfate (K₂S₂O₈, PS). The Fe²⁺/PS system effectively degraded quinoline compared with the sole PS and Fe²⁺ system. Optimal operation parameters were comprehensively evaluated, specifically, when the initial quinoline concentration was 250mg/L, the optimal quinoline/PS molar ratio, Fe²⁺/PS molar ratio, initial pH, reaction temperature and time were 1:10, 3:1, 3, 45℃ and 80min, respectively, the quinoline degradation rate reached to 100%. Increasing the concentrations of PS and Fe²⁺effectively improved the degradation rate of quinoline, but the effect on quinoline removal was not significant till exceeding a certain limit. The degradation rate increased with the increase of reaction temperature, meanwhile, the acidic condition more suitable for its removal. Moreover, the degradation reaction kinetics, introduced by Fe²⁺/PS oxidation, fit the first-order reaction. Free radical quenching experiments confirmed the existence of SO₄^-·, OH·and other reactive oxygen radicals in the system, in which OH·was dominant in the degradation of quinoline. Two intermediates, 8-hydroxyquinoline and 2(1H)-quinolinone, were detected by GC/MS, from which two pathways for quinoline degradation were inferred. Results of E.coli acute toxicity showed that although more toxic intermediate products may be produced during the removal of quinoline by Fe²⁺/PS system, the acidic conditions and higher reaction temperature accelerated the detoxification of the treatment system.