Two　facile　and　green　methods　without　any　templates,　catalysts,　surfactants　or　organic　solvents　were　applied　to　synthesize　ZnSn(OH)6　nanoparticles,　i.e.　homogeneous　precipitation　(HP)　and　hydrothermal　(HT).　The　photocatalytic　activities　were　evaluated　on　the　degradation　of　organic　pollutants　under　ultraviolet　light　illumination.　Compared　to　commercial　P25,　the　photoactivity　of　ZnSn(OH)6　was　remarkably　improved.　The　conversion　and　mineralization　ratio　of　the　photocatalytic　degradation　of　benzene　by　the　ZnSn(OH)6-HP　were　up　to　75%　and　68%,　which　is　about　20　and　2　times　higher　than　that　of　P25.　The　ZnSn(OH)6　has　also　exhibited　high　performance　toward　other　persistent　organic　compounds　as　well　as　methyl　orange　in　suspended　solution.　The　order　of　photodegradation　efficiencies　of　different　catalysts　was　ZnSn(OH)6-HP＞P25＞ZnSn(OH)6-HT.　Based　on　the　characterization　results　and　the　detection　of　active　species,　the　possible　mechanism　of　the　high　photocatalytic　activity　of　ZnSn(OH)6-HP　was　discussed.　The　simplified　synthesis　of　zinc　hydroxystannate　with　outstanding　activity　could　be　promisingly　used　in　the　future　photocatalytic　application.　©　2011　Elsevier　B.V.