Natural zeolite supported Fe3+-TiO2 photocatalysts were synthesized for the sake of improving the recovery and photocatalytic efficiency of TiO2. The as-prepared materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflection spectroscopy (UV-vis DRS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). Methyl orange was used to estimate the photocatalytic activity of the samples. The results showed that zeolite inhibited the growth of TiO2 crystallite sizes. The Fe3+ concentration played an important role on the microstructure and photocatalytic activity of the samples. The iron ions could diffuse into TiO2 lattice to the form Fe-O-Ti bond and gave TiO2 the capacity to absorb light at lower energy levels. The photocatalytic activity of the samples could be enhanced as appropriate dosages of Fe3+ were doped. (C) 2011 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.