A solvothermal method of sal gel synthesis of anatase titania in solutions of anhydrous aliphatic acids in an autoclave at 250-350 degrees C was developed. A series of mesoporous anatase powders were produced, which size, shape and phase composition are controlled by the organic acid radical length and synthesis temperature. The organic acid acts as solvent, reagent, and template agent in the formation of TiO2 nanocrystals. The powders show high activity towards the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) in aqueous solutions, comparable with that of the reference Aeroxide P25 TiO2 nanopowder. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.