In this work, a novel catalyst of Fe_3O_4@SiO_2@Yb_2O_3 was prepared and the degradation of thymol in reverse osmosis concentrate using ozonation was explored. The operational parameters, such as ozone dosage(8–48 mg·min~(-1)),initial thymol concentration(20–100 mg·L~(-1)), initial pH value(3–11), and catalyst Fe_3O_4@SiO_2@Yb_2O_3dosage(0.2–1.0 g), were studied focusing on the thymol degradation and COD removal. The results indicated that the increase in ozone dosage, initial p H value, and Fe_3O_4@SiO_2@Yb_2O_3dosage accelerated the thymol degradation and COD removal, while the increase in initial thymol concentration hampered the effect of ozonation. A pathway of thymol degradation by catalytic ozonation was proposed based on the intermediates detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometer and ion chromatography. This paper can provide basic data and technical alternative for pollutant removal from reverse osmosis concentrate by ozonation. In this work, a novel catalyst of iron oxide was prepared and the degradation of thymol in reverse osmosis was explored. The operational parameters, such as ozone dosage (8-48 mg · min -1) , initial thymol concentration (20-100 mg · L -1), initial pH value (3-11), and catalyst Fe_3O_4 @ SiO_2 @ Yb_2O_3dosage (0.2-1.0 g), were studied focusing on the thymol degradation and COD removal. The results indicated that the increase in ozone dosage, initial p H value, and Fe_3O_4 @ SiO_2 @ Yb_2O_3dosage accelerated the thymol degradation and COD removal, while the increase in initial thymol concentration hampered the effect of ozonation. A pathway of thymol degradation by catalytic ozonation was proposed based on the intermediates detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometer and ion chromatography. This paper can provide basic data and technical alternative for pollutant removal from reverse osmosis concentrate by ozonation.