Oxytetracycline (OTC), a widely used antibiotic, was taken as the model contaminant to study the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of mineralization using a UV/H2O2 system. Mineralization experiments were carried out at different initial OTC concentrations of 0.0156-0.0531M, initial H2O2 concentrations of 0.043-0.116M and at a temperature range of 20-50°C. The OTC mineralization process was monitored by measuring the total organic carbon as well as H2O2 consumption. The analysis of mineralization data showed two phases of mineralization: phase I: 0�t�30min and phase II: 30�t�180min. Based on this, the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters were established. The order of reaction obtained for organic C and H2O2 is 0.624 and 0.599 (phase I) and 0.954 and 0.062 (phase II), respectively. Based on this kinetic model, the OTC degradation rate constants were 0.0069min-1 (phase I) and 0.0051min-1 (phase II). The activation energy for phase I and phase II oxidation was 10.236 and 9.913kJmol-1, respectively. The estimated �#G and �#H values are positive, whereas negative �#S values were obtained. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.