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Photocatalytic oxidation of methylpyridine isomers (2-methylpyridine, 3-methylpyridine, and 4-methylpyridine) was investigated in a mixed solution of acetonitrile and water or acetonitrile using various kinds of TiO2 powders as photocatalysts. The main products from methylpyridine isomers were pyridinecarboxaldehyde isomers (2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde, 3-pyridinecarboxaldehyde, and 4-pyridinecarboxaldehyde). Rutile large TiO2 particles showed the highest level of activity for oxidation of 2-methylpyridine probably because band bending was necessary for the oxidation of 2-methylpyridine. On the other hand, a fine particle having an anatase or rutile phase showed a higher level of activity than large TiO2 particles for oxidation of 3-methylpyridine. A rutile fine particle showed the highest level of activity for the reaction. It was found that pure rutile or pure anatase particles were inactive for oxidation of 4-mathylpyridine. If the particles are not extremely small, pure rutile and pure anatase powders show fairly high levels of activity, and those containing both anatase and rutile phases show the highest level of activity. The activity of pure rutile particles was also enhanced by physically mixing them with a small amount of small anatase particles, which were inactive for this reaction. These results can be explained by the synergism between rutile and anatase particles. All of these reactions effectively proceeded even under anaerobic conditions. Photocatalytic reduction of methylpyridine isomers concomitantly proceeded on TiO2 particles under the conditions used. These results suggest that the activities of TiO2 photocatalysts for oxidation of methylpyridine isomers are dominated by the oxidation potential of alkylpiridine and band bending of TiO2 particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]