Purpose <p>This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an electrokinetic-enhanced advanced oxidation process (EK-AOP) using sodium persulfate (SPS) and organic activators (glucose, starch, humic acid (HA), and ascorbic acid (AA)) for remediating 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) contaminated soil. The research focused on identifying the most efficient activator and elucidating the degradation mechanism and pathway of 2,4-DCP.</p> Materials and methods <p>Contaminated soil was treated with SPS and organic activators in an EK-AOP system. Activators (1.0&#xa0;g in 600&#xa0;g soil) were tested with 10% (w/v) SPS. The performance of glucose, starch, HA, and AA as activators was compared. Soil physicochemical properties were analyzed pre- and post-treatment. Reactive species were identified using three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix (3D-EEM) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), while liquid chromatography elucidated the degradation pathway.</p> Results and discussion <p>HA achieved the highest 2,4-DCP removal efficiency (69.5%) with minimal soil property alterations. 3D-EEM and EPR confirmed HA activated SPS, generating sulfate radicals (SO₄⁻·) and hydroxyl radicals (·OH), with SO₄⁻· as the primary radical. The degradation pathway involved dichlorination to phenol,, ring cleavage to organic acids, and mineralization to CO₂ and H₂O. HA outperformed other activators in efficiency and environmental compatibility.</p> Conclusions <p>The EK-AOP process with SPS and HA effectively degraded 2,4-DCP in soil, achieving high removal efficiency and minimal soil impact. HA was the best activator, generating SO₄⁻· as the primary radical. This study provides a sustainable approach for remediating organic-contaminated soils.</p>