Degradation of tetracycline drug in aquatic environment by visible light active CuS/CdS photocatalyst

•The visible light respond CuS/CdS photocatalyst was successfully prepared by hydrothermal method.•Shape and surface morphology of the synthesized CuS/CdS photocatalyst was highly helpful for the photocatalytic degradation performance.•Interfacial contact between CuS and CdS was high this could lead to slow the electron-hole recombination.•The CuS/CdS photocatalyst exhibits highest photocatalytic degradation efficiency of TC about 90 % at 50 min under sunlight.•h+ and •O2- eliminates the toxic molecules in the tetracycline antibiotic.•The photo-degradation performance of CuS/CdS was not reduced even after four cycles.