In　this　work,　a　novel　ternary　heterojunction　composite　with　bismuth　oxide　(Bi2O3),　titanium　dioxide　(TiO2)　and　reduced　graphene　oxide　(rGO)　was　produced　via　a　one-step　hydrothermal　process.　The　prepared　Bi2O3/rGO/TiO2　(BRGT)　composite　possessed　a　strong　visible-light　responsiveness　and　a　high　separation　efficiency　of　photogenerated　carriers,　with　a　specific　surface　area　of　133.1　m2/g.　The　optimal　degradation　performance　towards　tetracycline　(94.3%　removal)　was　obtained　by　BRGT-10　with　Bi/Ti　molar　ratio　of　10%　and　mass　ratio　of　graphene　oxide/Ti　of　5%　following　conditions　of　0.1　g/L　BRGT-10　at　pH　of　6.7.　The　degradation　rate　of　tetracycline　by　BRGT　was　4.5,　3.8,　1.4,　and　1.28　times　that　of　TiO2,　TiO2/rGO,　Bi2O3/TiO2,　and　Bi2O3/TiO2@rGO,　respectively.　[rad]O2−　radicals　and　holes　play　the　dominant　roles　in　the　photodegradation　of　tetracycline.　Based　on　density　function　theory　calculation　and　liquid　chromatography-mass　spectrometry　identification　of　intermediates,　the　degradation　pathways　of　tetracycline　were　mostly　attributed　to　the　breakage　of　carbon-carbon　double　bonds,　nitrogen-carbon　bonds　and　rearrangement　of　hydroxyl　groups,　and　the　decreased　toxicity　of　the　formed　intermediates　was　evaluated.　The　BRGT-10　composite　owned　optimal　reusability　and　applicability.　This　study　explores　a　facile　synthesis　process　of　ternary　heterojunction　composite　and　provides　insights　into　photodegradation　mechanism　of　refractory　organics　from　water　under　visible-light.　©　2022　Elsevier　B.V.