The photochemical behaviour of biphenyle, 2-chlorobiphenyle and 4,4-dichlorobiphenyle in the adsorbed state upon irradiation with UV-light (λ > 290 nm) has been investigated. The results indicate that under these conditions organic chemicals are converted to hydroxylated products and in presence of sodium-nitrite to nitrocompounds. The photoinduced hydroxylation of aromatics strongly suggests the generation of hydroxylating species on the silica gel surface. Further it was found that the water molecules on the silica gel surface immediately participate in formation of these species. This study provides the first qualitative data for photoinduced hydroxylation reaction of aromatics on silica gel and reveals the environmental significance of silica gel adsorption on photochemical reactions.