Jar tests were conducted to expose the kinetic law of triclosan oxidation by potassium permanganate in aquatic environment. The rate constant of the reaction was obtained, meanwhile, the factors influencing the value of K, such as potassium permanganate dosage, pH value and temperature, were investigated. The results showed that triclosan was rapidly oxidized by potassium permanganate in aqueous solution with different initial concentrations of potassium permanganate, and second-order reaction kinetics was observed between triclosan and potassium permanganate with second-order reaction rate constant K=0.331 6 mL·s^-1·mol^-1.The second-order reaction rate constant was influenced by pH values, and K reached its lowest and highest level at pH 5 and 7 respectively. The rate of oxidation increased with the temperature increasing, and the reaction activation energy Ea=32.35 kJ·mol^-1, which revealed that the oxidation reaction between triclosan and potassium permanganate was feasible under usual water treatment condition. Therefore, potassium permanganate is a feasible oxidant which can removal the triclosan quickly and efficiently.