Benzoic acid can affect the iron-oxide mineral dissolution and react with hydroxyl radical. This study investigated its effect on 1,2-dichloroethane removal process by siderite-catalyzed hydrogen peroxide and persulfate. The variation of benzoic acid concentrations can affect pH value and soluble iron concentrations; when benzoic acid varied from 0 to 0.5 mmol/L, pH increased while Fe(2+) and Fe(3+) concentrations decreased, resulting in 1,2-dichloroethane removal efficiency which decreased from 91.2 to 5.0%. However, when benzoic acid varied from 0.5 to 10 mmol/L, pH decreased while Fe(2+) and Fe(3+) concentrations increased, resulting in 1,2-dichloroethane removal efficiency which increased from 5.0 to 83.4%.