The present study aims to describe photocatalytic zonation as a combination of two different techniques for hydroxyl radical generation; photocatalysis and ozonation, and to highlight its advantages for water and wastewater treatment compared to these two technologies. An extensive review on the mechanisms, kinetics and economic aspects of photocatalytic ozonation has been performed to explore the synergistic effects produced by applying this oxidation method to the degradation, mineralisation and detoxification of different organic pollutants in aqueous media. The influence of experimental parameters such as pollutant concentrations, ozone dose, photocatalytic load and properties, solution pH and temperature, irradiation wavelength and intensity and the effect of the presence of some substances on the efficiency of photocatalytic ozonation is discussed. Finally, plasma-induced photocatalytic systems are introduced as a new approach for handling photocatalytic ozonation treatments. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.