To study the efficient method for removal of the trace organic pollutants in water by peroxymonosulfate (PMS) based advanced oxidation processes, CuFe₂O₄nanoparticles were prepared by sol-gel method and used as heterogeneous catalyst in the CuFe₂O₄/PMS system for the degradation of norfloxacin(NFX). The CuFe₂O₄ nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Brunner-Emmet-Teller (BET). Several significant factors affecting the catalytic properties in the CuFe₂O₄/PMS system such as calcination temperature, CuFe₂O₄ dosage, PMS concentration and initial pH were investigated, and the reusability and stability of CuFe₂O₄nanoparticles were tested as well. Besides, the degradation mechanism of NFX in the CuFe₂O₄/PMS heterogeneous system was studied. The results showed that the best calcination temperature was 400 ℃, and in that temperature, better crystalline, larger surface area, higher catalytic activity could be obtained. The optimum of reaction conditions for the removal of NFX in CuFe₂O₄/PMS system was 0.1 g/L CuFe₂O₄, 0.5 mmol/L PMS and initial pH 9.5, under such conditions, NFX removal rate can reach 99% in 30 mins. CuFe₂O₄ could effectively activate PMS to generate·OH and SO₄^-·, and SO₄^-·was the main active species.