The invention relates to the field of purification and disinfection of air and water. A photocatalytic ele -ment consists of sintered glass beads with a pore volume fraction from 20% to 40% and a pore size from 0.1 to 0.5 mm, the surface of which is coated with a titanium dioxide powder, having a specific surface area of 150-400 m2/g, at the rate of 0.5-2%o relative to the total mass of the photocatalytic element. Furthermore, the surface of the glass beads has a relief shape with a relief depression of 0.5-10 urn. The method for producing the photocatalytic element comprises sintering the glass beads at a temperature that is 5-20°C higher than the glass softening temperature, modifying the bead surface with chemical etching agents, and coating the bead surface with the titanium dioxide powder from a water suspension at a pH of 2.9±0.1. The invention provides for the production of a photocatalytic element that is characterised by a strong adhesion and retention of the titanium dioxide powder on the surface of the carrier in the flow of a medium which is subjected to purification, and that has a high photocatalytic activity
