A visible-light-driven photocatalyst, Cu2O-CuO/Sr3BiO5.4, was synthesized by the precipitation method using a new acidic system with basic ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid disodium salt (Na(2)EDTA) as the buffer reagent. Part of Cu2O was formed on the surface of Sr3BiO5.4 in situ during the calcination. 5.4 log inactivation of Escherichia coli K-12 and 27% degradation of naphthalene were achieved in 3 and 2 h, respectively, under the visible light irradiation provided by fluorescent lamps. The results of this study suggested that Cu2O-CuO on the surface of Sr3BiO5.4 is stable and can effectively promote the visible light photocatalytic activity of Sr3BiO5.4. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier B.V.