ZnWO4　nanoparticles　were　synthesized　by　a　facile　microwave-assisted　solvothermal　process.　The　X-ray　diffraction　results　indicated　that　the　as-synthesized　nanoparticles　exhibited　only　wolframite　structure　ZnWO4　without　impurities.　The　transmission　electron　microscopy　(TEM)　images　revealed　that　the　particle　size　of　synthesized　nanoparticles　were　around　10　nm.　All　samples　showed　a　band-gap　of　3.8　eV.　The　photocatalytic　activities　were　evaluated　by　the　decomposition　of　salicylic　acid　and　Rhodamine　B　under　UV　light　irradiations.　The　results　showed　that　the　samples　prepared　by　the　microwave　solvothermal　process　exhibited　higher　photocatalytic　activities　than　that　prepared　by　the　conventional　solvothermal　process.　©　2009　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.