The use of Fe(III)-siderophore complexes in a Fenton process was investigated for degradation of propranolol, a model pollutant. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia 15 was isolated from a freshwater environment and used for siderophore production. The main factors influencing propranolol degradation, such as pH and the concentration of siderophore, H2O2, and O-2, were examined. The degradation of propranolol was increasing with decreasing pH from 8.0 to 3.0. The presence of oxygen accelerated the generation of hydroxyl radicals, (OH)-O-center dot, which were verified to be mainly responsible for the degradation of propranolol. This work suggested that Fe(III)-siderophore complexes are a good alternative for the advanced treatment of organic pollutants at near neutral pH via the Fenton process. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.