Sodium　dodecyl　benzenesulfonate　(SDBS)　is　a　common　anionic　surfactant　used　in　detergents,　and　a　major　household　pollutant.　SDBS　released　with　bathing　and　laundry　wastewater　causes　eutrophication　of　water　bodies　and　toxicity　in　aquatic　organisms.　We　compared　the　degradation　of　SDBS　in　aqueous　solution,　by　vacuum　ultraviolet　(VUV,　254　nm　and　185　nm)　and　ultraviolet　irradiation　(UV,　254　nm).　Using　lab-scale　reactors,　VUV　degraded　SDBS　more　efficiently　than　UV,　also　achieving　a　higher　mineralization　rate.　HO　center　dot　was　the　main　reactive　oxygen　species　produced　by　VUV.　SDBS　concentration　affected　the　distribution　of　absorbed　VUV　and　UV　photons,　and　influenced　the　reaction　triggered.　VUV　was　more　efficient　at　lower　concentrations,　when　indirect　oxidation　by　HO　center　dot　was　prevalent.　The　UV　process,　relied　mostly　on　direct　photolysis,　and　was　affected　slightly　by　initial　concentration.　VUV　was　more　efficient　at　solution　pH　of　5　and　9,　while　UV　performed　better　at　alkaline　conditions.　Temperature　increased　the　degradation　rates　for　both　processes.　The　addition　of　SO42-　slightly　promoted　SDBS　degradation　in　the　VUV　process,　while　Cl-　and　HCO3-　inhibited　it.　For　UV,　SO42-　and　Cl-　illustrated　no　significant　difference　on　the　degradation,　while　HCO3-　had　a　positive　impact　on　the　system.　We　identified　the　four　photoproducts　of　SDBS　degradation　by　VUV,　and　proposed　a　degradation　pathway.　Finally,　the　fact　the　VUV　could　be　efficiently　used　to　remove　anionic　surfactant　from　real　wastewater,　proved　that　it　can　be　applied　efficiently　with　low　energetic　consumption.