The 8-10 nm pure anatase phase titania with 156 m2/g BET surface area was prepared by solution combustion method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and BET surface area. This catalyst was used for the photocatalytic degradation of various dyes such as heteropolyaromatic dye (Methylene blue), anthraquinonic dye (Alizarin S), and azoic dyes (Methyl red, Congo red, and Orange G). The effect of catalyst loading, initial concentrations of the dyes, pH, and transition metal doping on TiO2 was investigated. Substitution of TiO2 with transition metal had a detrimental effect on the photocatalytic activity. However, this inhibition effect was not observed with Pt impregnated TiO2. This was attributed to the metals being in ionic state in metal substituted TiO 2 synthesized by combustion method, and zero state of metal in impregnated catalysts as evidenced by XPS study. The degradation of dyes was also investigated in solar exposure. The photoactivity of the combustion synthesized titania was higher than commercial TiO2 (Degussa P-25) for both UV and solar exposure. The experimental data followed Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) rate form and the kinetic parameters were obtained. © 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.