Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) is a frequently detected antibiotic in groundwater, raising environmental concerns. Persulfate oxidation is used for micropollutant removal. To investigate SMX transformation by persulfate, experiments were conducted using heat-activated persulfate at pH 3, 7, and 10. TP269a (SMX-hydroxylamine) and TP178 were identified as the dominant TPs across the pH levels. The exclusive formation of 4-nitroso-SMX, 4-nitro-SMX, and TP518 at pH 3 highlighted the role of SO