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A large number of fluorinated chemicals have been synthesized and used worldwide because of their unique properties. However, because of the strong C–F bond, fluorinated chemicals are not decomposed in nature. Herein, the activity of gallium oxide toward the degradation of trifluoromethyl benzoic acid in aqueous media was examined under UVC radiation by using a low-pressure mercury lamp as the light source. The degradation process was monitored by HPLC, UV–Vis spectroscopy and TOF-MS techniques, which permitted some intermediates to be identified. The defluorination efficiency was greater under a nitrogen atmosphere than in air, with the para-isomer (4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid) being more prone to degradation (ca. 90%). The degradation mechanism was proposed on the basis of the theoretical calculation on the electron density and the intermediate analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]