This study reported a new anatase TiO2-modified granular activated carbon (GAC-TiO2) synthesized by microwave -assisted hydrothermal method. The composite was characterized morpho-structurally by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) measurement. GAC-TiO2 composite was used for the removal of humic acids (HA) rom water by the photocatalysis under UV irradiation in comparison with the sorption process. Kinetics results correlated with Zeta potential results allowed elucidating some mechanistic aspects. GAC-TiO2 composite revealed high photoactivity for HA degradation and mineralization. A self-cleaning activity of the composite proved in this study makes it very remarkable in developing next generation of filtering system avoiding its fouling in the drinking water treatment technology. (C) 2016 Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.