A small-pore silicon-substituted silicon aluminum phosphate (SAPO-34) molecular sieve, for the first time, is reported to significantly increase both the activity and life span of Ag3PO4 photocatalyst for visible-light degradation of methylene blue (MB) and rhodamine B (RhB). Results show that 60 wt.% Ag3PO4/SAPO-34 exhibits the highest photocatalytic degradation efficiencies for both MB (91.0% degradation within 2.0 min) and RhB (91.0% degradation within 7.0 min). In comparison, pure Ag3PO4 powder photocatalyst requires 8.0 min and 12.0 min for decomposing 91.0% of MB and RhB, respectively. During MB degradation the rate constant for 60 wt.% Ag3PO4/SAPO-34 increases 317.2% in comparison with the rate constant of pure Ag3PO4. This activity is also much higher than literature reported composite or supported Ag3PO4 photocatalysts. In three photocatalytic runs for the degradation of RhB, the rate constant for 60 wt.% Ag3PO4/SAPO-34 reduces from 0.33 to 0.18 min(-1) (45.5% efficiency loss). In contrast, the rate constant of pure Ag3PO4 catalyst decreases from 0.2 to 0.07 min(-1) (80.0% efficiency loss). All experimental results have shown that small pores and zero light absorption loss of SAPO-34 molecular sieves minimize Ag3PO4 loading, enhance photocatalytic activity and prolong the lifespan of Ag3PO4 photocatalyst. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.