A B S T R A C T :The photo-oxidation of tryptophan (TRP), photosensitized by methylene blue (MB) exchanged on hectorite, Wyoming bentonite and laponite is strongly influenced by three factors: (i) Fe(III) in the structure, which quenches the excited state of MB; (ii) the adsorption site of MB, as photo-oxidation only takes place with MB on the external surface; (iii) dye aggregation, which reduces the yield. Rose bengal (RB), chemically anchored on the external surface of Barasym does not sensitize the photo-oxidation of TRP.Two electronically excited singlet states of oxygen are located 94.3 and 157