Preparation route of new tungsten-containing TiO2 powders (W-TiO2) and their activity under visible light are reported. The photocatalysts were prepared by the sol-gel method and by grinding anatase powder with a dopant precursor followed by calcinations (surface impregnation method). Tungsten oxide and tungsten hexacarbonyl were used as tungsten sources in both photocatalyst preparation procedure. The obtained photocatalysts were subsequently characterized by a BET method, X-ray photoelectron emission spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray powder diffraction analysis (XRD). Degradation efficiency of phenol and formation of phenol degradation by-products were compared for two systems: W-doped TiO2 under visible light and P-25 under UV irradiation. The highest photoactivity under visible light was observed for 3%-W-TiO2 and it was three times higher than photoactivity of pure TiO2. Phenol oxidation in the presence of W-TiO2 and visible light leads to formation of hydroxyproduct (catechol) and phenol ring cleavage products (muconic aldehyde). (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.