The surface of a semi-conducting surface, viz., titania was modified by adsorbing an anionic surfactant, viz., sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) at aqueous pH values less than the point of zero charge of 6.8. The hydrophobic titania surface was capable of adsorbing hydrophobic organic compounds, such as 1,2-dichlorobenzene and phenanthrene at dilute concentrations from the aqueous phase. The adsorption partition coefficients for both compounds on SDS hemi-micelles on TiO2 are of magnitudes similar to their octanol-water partition constants, which are indicators of similar hydrophobic environments. The potential uses of SDS-coated TiO2 for simultaneously adsorbing and photo-chemically degrading hydrophobic organic compounds as a means of treating dilute wastewater streams are suggested.