Two composites between anatase-type TiO2 and carbon were prepared, i.e. carbon-coated TiO2 and TiO2-mounted exfoliated graphite. Carbon-coated TiO2 shows effective photocatalytic activity for methylene blue (MB) decomposition. Carbon layer coated on TiO2 particle was experimentally proved to adsorb methylene blue from its aqueous solution and transfer it to TiO2 surface to decompose photocatalytically. Carbon coating was found to stabilize anatase-type structure at high temperatures and, as a consequence, high crystallinity of anatase could be obtained, which had high activity. TiO2-mounted exfoliated graphite could work as the absorbent of heavy oil and also as the catalyst for the decomposition of absorbed heavy oil under UV irradiation. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.