Why does dissolved oxygen govern Mn(III) formation and micro-pollutant abatement in the permanganate/bisulfite process?

•DO governed removal of micro-pollutants in PM/BS process.•Formed Mn(III), SO4•− and HO• contributed to the accelerated degradation.•Mn(III) is the oxidation product of Mn(II) by SO5•−.•Actual DO consumption in the presence of micro-pollutants is proposed >1.5[PM]0.