Several remarkable observations regarding structure, (surface) composition and visible light induced photocatalytic activity of Bi-promoted Anatase photocatalysts are reported. First, XPS characterization data show that compositions of mixed Bi-Ti-oxide phases obtained by hydrothermal treatment at 180 degrees C of aqueous solutions of ethanol, titanium n-butoxide, and bismuth nitrate, are surface enriched with a specific fraction of metallic-like bismuth. Second, the formation of highly dispersed nanoparticles of platinum on these composites by photo-deposition is accompanied by significant morphological changes. Third, the platinum functionalized, bismuth-promoted Anatase composites exhibit extraordinary photocatalytic activity in the photocatalytic degradation of organic compounds (acid orange 7 and salicylic acid, respectively) upon illumination at 447 nm, higher than observed for P25 upon UV illumination in similar reactor configuration. An optimized Pt-Bi-Ti-O-x composite consists of 1 wt% Pt and 5 wt% Bi. The high activity of the composite is discussed on the basis of the crystalline morphology and surface composition. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.