A novel magnetically separable composite photocatalyst, anatase titania-coated magnetic activated carbon (TMAC), was prepared in this article. In the synthesis, magnetic activated carbon (MAC) was firstly obtained by adsorbing magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles onto the activated carbon (AC),and then the obtained MAC was directly coated by anatase titania nanoparticles prepared at low temperature (i.e. 75 degrees C). The prepared samples were characterized by XRD, SEM and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The composite photocatalyst can be easily separated from solution by a magnet, its photocatalytic activity in degradation of phenol in aqueous solution also has dramatic enhancement compared to that of the neat titania. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.