Sulfur-doped BiOCl (BiOCl-S) photocatalysts were synthesized using a simple and effective method. The as-synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman scattering spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and ultraviolet visible (UV-vis) absorption spectroscopy. During the photodegradation of rhodamine B and phenol, BiOCl-S exhibits higher activity than BiOCl. Sn, Mn doped BiOCl were also synthesized successfully with the same doping route. We provide a simple and effective method for doping element into bismuth oxyhalides. BiOCl-S photocatalyst may be one of the promising materials for the degradation of organic environmental pollution. (C) 2018 Published by Elsevier B.V.