A novel CdS/Bi2MoO6 heterojunction photocatalysts were successfully prepared via two-step hydrothermal methods. The prepared samples were characterized by various physicochemical techniques, such as XRD, SEM, TEM, HRTEM, XPS, UV-vis and PL. The obtained samples exhibited highly photocatalytic activity toward the degradation of the different kinds of organic dyes and tetracycline in aqueous solution under visible light irradiation (lambda > 420 nm). The optimum photocatalytic efficiency of CdS-2 sample for the degradation rhodamine B (RhB) was about 25.3 and 3.7 times higher than that of individual CdS and Bi2MoO6, respectively. In addition, the possible photocatalytic mechanism was analyzed by different active species trapping experiments. The results indicated that the h(+) and O-center dot(2)- were the main active species for the photocatalytic degradation of RhB. Moreover, the prepared sample shows good stability and recyclability properties which are beneficial for its practical application. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier B.V.