In　this　study,　CuAl-LDH　precursor　was　loaded　on　heat-treated　graphite　felt　(HGF)　to　obtain　CuAl-LDH/HGF.　Then,　the　CuAl-LDO/HGF　composite　electrode　was　synthesized　by　calcination　under　a　high-temperature　nitrogen　atmosphere.　CuAl-LDO/HGF　composite　electrodes　were　used　to　remove　sulfamethoxazole　(SMX)　in　a　heterogeneous　electro-Fenton　(hetero-EF)　system.　Both　the　hydrophilicity　and　redox　capacity　of　CuAl-LDO/HGF　composite　cathode　were　significantly　improved,　and　the　SMX　removal　effect　of　CuAl-LDO/HGF　in　the　hetero-EF　system　was　superior　to　that　of　HGF.　After　the　preparation　conditions　and　reaction　factors　were　optimized,　SMX　was　completely　eliminated　within　60　min　using　the　hetero-EF　system　under　nearly-neutral　conditions.　69.33%　of　the　total　organic　carbon　(TOC)　was　removed　from　the　solution　after　6　h　of　reaction.　The　SMX　removal　efficiency　approached　94.4%　after　eight　reuse　cycles.　Radical　quenching　experiments　showed　that　surface　hydroxyl　radicals　(•OH)　were　crucial　to　the　degradation　of　SMX　in　this　hetero-EF　system.　The　biological　toxicity　of　SMX　and　the　products　generated　during　its　degradation　were　assessed,　and　the　probable　SMX　degradation　mechanism　was　also　discussed.　This　work　provides　a　feasible　new　insight　for　hetero-EF　systems　to　remove　antibiotics　from　wastewater.　©　2023　Elsevier　Ltd