The photodegraclation of n-hexadecane (n-C-16) was tested using photocatalysts containing MOR, ZSM-5 or Y zeolites exchanged with similar to 5.2 wt% of V,Cr, Mn, Cu or Zn. n-C-16 was selected to realize intimate contact to the metal cations inside the zeolitic channels. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) indicated retaining high crystallinity of the catalysts incorporating the current metals. Moreover, the UV-vis spectra indicated that the current-exchanged metals are present as isolated species. Application of the Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetics admitted calculating the photocatalytic degradation rate constant, k, and the adsorption coefficient, K-ad, for the photodegradation of n-hexadecane, which have been found to correlate with atomic weights of the metals and their active cationic surface area. The MOR containing catalysts exhibited a reversed behaviour of k and Kad, compared to those containing ZSM-5 and Y zeolites. However, K-ad seems to be correlated well with the active surface area of the metal cations. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.