To investigate the feasibility of minimizing the bromate formation with ferrate(VI) during ozonation process, the batched experiments were carried out under several operating variables, such as ferrate(VI) dose (0-5.0 mg/L), initial bromide concentration (100-1500 mu g/L), ozone concentration (1.5, 2.5 and 4.0 mg/L), pH (3.0-11.0), temperature (278 K, 298 K and 313 K) and reaction time (0-60 mm). Compared with ozone oxidation, ferrate(VI)-ozone process can effectively inhibit the bromate formation. Bromate formation can be completely inhibited under the following conditions: ferrate(VI) dose of 1.0 or 2.0 mg/L, [O-3] <= 2.5 mg/L, [Br-] <= 200 mu g/L, pH <= 9.0 and temperature <= 313 K. The inhibiting mechanism took effect by the produced intermediates of ferrate(VI), such as Fe(III), Fe(II), H2O2 and the hydroxides of Fe(III), which had reduction or flocculation effects on BrO3- or HBrO/BrO- that resulted in less bromate formation, and it was further proved by the effect of radical scavenger (t-BuOH). The pH effect study revealed that ferrate(VI) could depress the concentration of bromate below the drinking water standard (10 mu g/L) in the wide pH range of 3.0-11.0. High ambient temperature also showed a positive effect on the inhibition of bromate formation in ferrate(VI)-ozone process. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.