CdS was synthesized via hydrothermal method and CdS-coated ZrO 2 composite was prepared via chemical precipitation method. And then they were characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). After that, the sonocatalytic degradation of pethidine hydrochloride (dolantin) in aqueous solution was conducted adopting CdS-coated ZrO 2 composite as sonocatalyst with inorganic oxidant assisted. In addition, some influencing factors such as inorganic oxidant kind, including persulfate (K 2 S 2 O 8), perchlorate (NaClO 4) and periodate (KIO 4), inorganic oxidant concentration and ultrasonic irradiation time on sonocatalytic degradation of pethidine hydrochloride were examined by using gas chromatograph. The experimental results showed that the used inorganic oxidants can effectively assisted the sonocatalytic degradation of pethidine hydrochloride caused by CdS-coated ZrO 2 composite and the increase effects arrange as the order of K 2 S 2 O 8 > KIO 4 > NaClO 4. And the best sonocatalytic degradation ratio (95.50 %) of pethidine hydrochloride could be obtained when the conditions of 10.00 mmol/L K 2 S 2 O 8 , 1.00 g/L prepared CdS-coated ZrO 2 composite, 135 min