Titania powders consisting of well-crystallized nanosize rutile phase (ca. 20-50 nm) were prepared by the "low temperature dissolution-reprecipitation process" (LTDRP) in liquid media. The crystallization of amorphous precursor was carried out at a low temperature around room temperature. The crystallization temperature was about 385 and 110degreesC lower than those by calcination in air (407 degreesC) and hydrothermal reaction 0 30 c Q, respectively. The phase constitution of powders from LTDRP was identified by XRD and Raman analyses. The titania powders prepared by LTDRP possessed a high specific surface area of 135.0 m(2) g(-1), which was about two times greater than that prepared by hydrothermal method. The phase composition, microstructure, morphology, agglomerate state and specific surface area of titania changed significantly, depending on the pH value, type of solvent and coexisting ion, etc. in the solution. The photocatalytic activity of crystalline titania was characterized. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.