The　fumed　silica　used　to　produce　the　photocatalytic　materials.　TiO2　gel　was　obtained　using　tetrabutyl　titanate　as　a　precursor　via　an　acid　catalyzed　sol-gel　process.　A　novel　TiO2/fumed　silica　porous　ceramic　material　was　produced　using　a　4%　phosphoric　acid　binder.　The　influence　of　heating　temperature　on　the　crystalline　phases　of　TiO2,　and　the　properties　and　photocatalytic　activity　of　TiO2　was　investigated.　The　experimental　results　showed　that　the　transformation　of　TiO2　from　anatase　to　rutile　began　at　725　degrees　C.　The　photocatalytic　porous　ceramic　materials　which　were　heated　at　700-800　degrees　C　exhibited　high　tensile　strength　(7.67-8.18　MPa),　high　specific　surface　areas　(25.01-25.07　m(2)　g(-1)),　high　anatase　content　(＞90%)　and　good　photocatalytic　activity,　as　confirmed　by　the　complete　degradation　of　a　10　mg.L-1　methyl　orange　solution　using　15W.m(-2)　with　ultraviolet　light　irradiation　over　24　h.　This　technique　successfully　overcomes　the　difficulties　in　separation　and　recovery　commonly　associated　with　most　commercial　TiO2　in　a　superfine　powder　state.　(C)　2011　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd.