This work deals with the removal of emerging pollutants in water by solar light with photocatalysts based on C-modified TiO2 materials, using lignin as carbonaceous precursor and acetaminophen as target compound. This provides a way of lignin valorization, a large-scale by-product from the pulp and paper industry and the future lignocellulosic biorefinery. Several C-modified TiO2 materials were prepared following a hydrothermal method and a further thermal treatment in different atmospheres (air or nitrogen). The resulting catalysts were fully characterized by different techniques to learn on the structure-photoactivity relation. Complete acetaminophen conversion was achieved after only 1 h under solar irradiation with the photocatalysts calcinated under air atmosphere (C-Ti-400air and C-Ti-500air), being (OH)-O-center dot and O-2(center dot-) radicals the main reactive oxygen species involved in the acetaminophen photodegradation. These photocatalysts yielded the highest activity, which was maintained upon four successive uses. These findings are discussed with a focus on the development of active photocatalysts under solar light for the photodegradation of emerging pollutants.