ZnWO4　nanoparticles　were　synthesized　by　a　facile　microwave-assisted　solvothermal　process.　The　X-ray　diffraction　results　indicated　that　the　as-synthesized　nanoparticles　exhibited　only　wolframite　structure　ZnWO4　without　impurities.　The　transmission　electron　microscopy(TEM)　images　revealed　that　the　particle　size　of　synthesized　nanoparticles　were　around　10　nm.　All　samples　showed　a　band-gap　of　3.8　eV.　The　photocatalytic　activities　were　evaluated　by　the　decomposition　of　salicylic　acid　and　Rhodamine　B　under　UV　light　irradiations.　The　results　showed　that　the　samples　prepared　by　the　microwave　solvothermal　process　exhibited　higher　photocatalytic　activities　than　that　prepared　by　the　conventional　solvothermal　process.　(C)　2009　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.