The synthesis of anatase photocatalyst powder from sodium titanate compounds prepared from rutile and sodium carbonate powder was studied. The sodium titanate compounds were derived from the solid-state reactions of three different (1:4, 1:1.58 and 1:0.73) (m/m) ratios of TiO2:Na2CO3 at 850 degrees C. Then, the powder was dissolved in 5 M H2SO4 solution, filtered, washed, dried and calcined at 400, 500 or 600 degrees C for 2 h. The effects of processing parameters on the resultant phase structure, crystallite size, morphology and the surface area of the synthesized powders were investigated. It was found that the anatase powder with a crystallite size of about 102 nm and a specific surface area of 16.7 m(2)/g synthesized from sodium titanate compounds with a 1:1.58 (m/m) ratio of TiO2:Na2CO3 and calcined at 600 degrees C showed the best photocatalytic activity to degrade of methylene blue in aqueous solution under UV irradiation. (C) 2011 The Society of Powder Technology Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. and The Society of Powder Technology Japan. All rights reserved.