The ultraviolet light(UV)/sodium acetate advanced reduction process(ARP)system was constructed to produce the carbon dioxide anion radical(CO2-)with a strong reducing power,which could converted nitrate in water into gas overflow.The production of CO2-in the reaction system was confirmed by electron spin resonance(ESR),and the effects of the initial dosage of sodium acetate,initial pH,common ions and dissolved organic matter on the efficiency of reaction were investigated.The results showed that when the initial concentration of nitrate was 16 mg·L-1 and the dosage of sodium acetate was 4 mmol·L-1,the pH of the reaction solution was 7.45,and a 125 W,365 nm high-pressure mercury lamp was used as the light source,the degradation rates of nitrate and total nitrogen(TN)in the UV/sodium acetate system reached 98.4%and 86.4%,respectively.Acidic conditions and high power of UV lamp were conducive to improving reaction efficiency.Common anions in water such as chloride ion,sulfate ion,bicarbonate ion and dissolved organic matter such as humic acid(HA)had a certain impact on the removal efficiency of nitrate.