New operando-IR was used to study the photocatalytic oxidation of methanol in gas phase using a new *BEA zeolite supported TiO2 (*BEA-Ti) photocatalyst. Following the photocatalytic reaction with time resolved IR spectroscopy coupled to mass spectrometry allowed a quantitative and mechanistic study. The surface species and the parameters affecting the reactivity and selectivity of the reaction were identified and a mechanism was proposed. For comparison, *BEA zeolite and TiO2 (P25) compounds have been examined as photocatalysts. The effect of the temperature on the reactivity and selectivity of the photooxidation was investigated by TPD measurements (from RT to 473 K). The new *BEA-Ti material showed high reactivity, despite its low content in TiO2 (similar to 10%). This work shows the reliability of the new operando-IR in the heterogeneous photocatalysis studies in air purification. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.