Article Highlights • Nanocrystalline TiO 2 was synthesized by sol-gel route • Nanocrystalline TiO 2 was applied in the degradation of amoxicillin • The effect of catalyst, salt, ethanol and pH on the reaction was established • The mineralization of amoxicillin was analyzed by IC and TOC • The catalytic properties of nanocrystalline TiO 2 was compared to P25