This study explored the potential of electroplating sludge (ESs) as a novel and effective photocatalyst for the photodegradation of ciprofloxacin in aqueous solutions. The characterization of the ESs was evaluated using sophisticated techniques, such as XRD, SEM, TEM, EDX, FTIR, and BET. ESs-derived photocatalyst materials were found to primarily consist of various metal oxides (Ni-O, Cu-O), which can absorb ultraviolet or visible light. The effectiveness of photodegradation was assessed by measuring the decomposition of Ciprofloxacin (CIP) in aqueous solutions. The results showed that after 180 min of UVA illumination, a remarkable photodegradation effectiveness of 93.87% was achieved for a CIP concentration of 10 mg L