A new type of tubular photocatalytic reactor was developed to realize practical application of TiO2 photocatalyst for water purification. The principal part of the reactor consists of the ceramic cylindrical tube whose inner surface is coated with Pt-loaded TiO2 film and the 30 W ultraviolet light lamp which is set longitudinally in the center of the tube. The water to be treated is circulated through the reactor via a buffer reservor for aeration. The performance of the reactor was evaluated through the experiment of decomposing aqueous phenol, tetrachloroethylene (TCE) and bisphenol A. It was shown that all the tested organic compounds are decomposed in moderately shorter time by the reactor. It would be expected that the reactor could be commercialized for its high efficiency in purifying polluted water and for its simple set up ensuring maintenance free. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.