In the present work, a novel composite photocatalyst ceria-coated activated carbon (CCAC) was prepared by a facile method. The composite photocatalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and photocatalytic degradation of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP). A synergy effect for 4-CP degradation was observed because the activated carbon (AC) with strong adsorbent activity provided sites for the adsorption of 4-CP. Then, the adsorbed 4-CP can migrate continuously onto the surface of ceria particles and then degraded at there. Hydroquinone (HQ) and benzoquinone (BQ) were found to be the main intermediates of the photocatalytic 4-CP degradation with ceria or CCAC by HPLC measurement. The results suggested that the same reaction mechanism occurred in the presence of ceria or titania. (c) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.