A simple method of preparation of visible-light active rutile-TiO2 photocatalysts is presented. New materials were obtained by modification of a commercial amorphous titanium dioxide via impregnation followed by calcination at 800 degrees C processes. Series of Fe-modified TiO2 with different Fe:TiO2 ratios (1,5 and 10 wt.% of Fe) were obtained by impregnation with Fe(NO3)(3) followed by calcination in argon atmosphere. Nitrogen-modified TiO2 was prepared by calcination of the commercial titania in ammonia atmosphere at 800 degrees C. Finally (Fe,N) co-modified samples were prepared by combining impregnation with calcination in ammonia atmosphere. The materials were characterized by the following methods: X-ray power diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), elemental analysis, UV-Vis/DR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and N-2 adsorption at 77 K. The photocatalytic activity of the new materials was studied during oxidative decomposition of acetic acid under visible light irradiation using mercury lamp and a cut-off filter providing wavelength longer than 400 nm. Additionally, the so-called action spectra measurements of photocatalytic activity as a function of irradiation wavelength were conducted. The results revealed an excellent increase in the visible light photoactivity of the co-modified samples in comparison with the single-modified ones, which was ascribed to the synergistic effect of the N,Fe rutile co-modification. Nitrogen caused a band-gap narrowing allowing absorption of longer wavelengths from visible light region, whereas iron increased the efficiency of charge separation. As a result, a significantly improved photocatalytic performance of the materials was observed. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.