A novel catalyst, TiO2 nanoparticles dispersed in silicate, were used to photodegrade sulforhodamine B (SRB) under UV-VIS irradiation. With good photocatalytic activity and the ability to be readily separated from the reaction system, this novel catalyst exhibits the potential to be effective in the treatment of dye pollutants in aqueous systems. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.