Nonaqueous synthesis of magnetite particles offers great opportunities to achieve the particle size control and surface modification since potential reaction media are hugely abundant. Herein epichlorohydrin (ECH), a versatile industrial chemical, was employed as a functional solvent for the first time to directly synthesize modified Fe3O4 microspheres (Fe3O4-op-ECH) with the reduced particle size of ca. 0.25 mu m and enhanced Cu2+ exchange capacity of 44.9 mg/g. The Cu2+-exchanged Fe(3)O(4)op-ECH was demonstrated as a potential Fenton-like catalyst for wastewater treatment by catalytic degradation of metronidazole with H2O2.