1-Methylimidazole-2-thiol, as a kind of mercaptans, is a typical organic pollutant which has not been efficiently removed. In this study, titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) photocatalyst based on magnetic multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was synthesized via hydrothermal and sol-gel methods. The as-prepared photocatalyst was extensively characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray energy diffraction spectrum (EDS), transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-vis DRS) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). This photocatalyst of $TiO_2$/$Fe_3O_4$/MWCNTs was proved to exhibit high photocatalytic efficiency and the photodegradation rate could reach nearly 82.7% for the degradation of 1-methylimidazole-2-thiol under ultraviolet irradiation. In addition, the results demonstrated that inorganic ions had a negative impact on photodegradation of 1-methylimidazole-2-thiol to varying degrees. Moreover, pH had a great and complex effect on photocatalytic degradation of 1-methylimidazole-2-thiol under ultraviolet irradiation.