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• Higher ozone utilization efficiency was observed in O 3 /Fe0 than O 3. • In O 3 and O 3 /Fe0, sulfamethoxazole removed more than 99% at the first 5 min. • COD removed in O 3 /Fe0 1.4 times greater than O 3. • The cost of consumed Fe0 in O 3 /Fe0 process would be 4.4 USD t−1 of SMX. Feasibility of iron shavings (Fe0) as a low-cost catalyst was evaluated in catalytic ozonation for degradation of sulfamethoxazole (SMX). The characterization of the catalyst studied by a variety of techniques like scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Experimental results indicated a first order kinetics for Fe-based catalytic ozonation (O 3 /Fe0) and sole-ozonation (O 3) in the removal of SMX with slightly greater rate constant for O 3. In the both processes, the removal efficiency of SMX was more than 99% at the first 5 min. Average COD removal efficiency in the O 3 /Fe0 process was about 1.36 times greater than O 3. The main intermediates detected by LC-MS/MS were 3-Amino-5-methylisoxazole, benzoquinone, sulfanilic acid, hydroxyl-SMX and nitroso SMX. The mineralization of SMX significantly increased concentration of sulfate and nitrate. Fe0 enhanced ozone utilization and transfer rate. Fe0 is not requiring any preparation before use and could be a promising catalyst for practical advanced wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]