Photocatalytic destruction of vinyl chloride (VC) was examined in a laboratory experimental set-up and the results were compared with those obtained from trichloroethylene (TCE) photocatalysis. Granular photocatalyst used in the study consisted of silica support coated with 0.1% titanium dioxide as the main photocaalytically active ingredient. Experimental work involved passing polluted air containing VC or TCE through a UV annular reactor at varying concentrations and residence times. Ultraviolet illumination was provided by low-pressure monochromatic mercury lamps with peak intensities at either 254 nm (germicidal) or 365 nm (black light). The operating temperature was constant at about 30 degreesC. UV photocatalysis provided greater than 80% VC removal at inlet concentrations of up to 60 ppmv and reactor gas retention times as low as 0.6 s. The overall removal capacity of the photoreactor was about 1000g VC per m(3) photocatalyst per hour (g m(-3) h(-1)). Although this removal rate for VC was up to about 40% of that for TCE, this study is the first to obtain such noticeable photocatalytic destruction for VC, which is a biologically recalcitrant contaminant and its emission is a source of environmental concern. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.