S-doped rutile has been prepared for the first time by hydrothermal reaction of TiS2 in hydrochloric acid at a low temperature (180 degrees C), with the S atoms in three states of Ti S Ti, Ti S-O and SO4. TiS2 in nitric acid can also be transformed into TiO2, but with mixed phases of anatase and rutile, containing nitrogen atoms at interstitial sites in the form of Ti-O-N or Ti-N-O. The S-TiO2 catalyst shows a better visible-light reactivity toward adsorbed methylene blue (MB) photodegradation and hydroxylation of terephthalic acid with respect to the N-TiO2. The possible reasons leading to the high photoactivity of the S TiO2 are discussed in terms of the incorporated sulfur states. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.