The　construction　of　heterojunctions　has　been　used　to　optimize　photocatalyst　fuel　denitrification.　In　this　work,　HKUST-1(Cu)　was　used　as　a　sacrificial　template　to　synthesize　a　composite　material　CuxO　(CuO/Cu2O)　that　retains　the　original　MOF　framework　for　photocatalytic　fuel　denitrification　by　calcination　at　different　temperatures.　By　adjusting　the　temperature,　the　content　of　CuO/Cu2O　can　be　changed　to　control　the　performance　and　structure　of　CuxO-T　effectively.　The　results　show　that　CuxO-300　has　the　best　photocatalytic　performance,　and　its　denitrification　rate　reaches　81%　after　4　hours　of　visible　light　(≥420　nm)　irradiation.　Through　the　experimental　analysis　of　pyridine＇s　infrared　and　XPS　spectra,　we　found　that　calcination　produces　CuxO-T　mixed-valence　metal　oxide,　which　can　create　more　exposed　Lewis　acid　sites　in　the　HKUST-1(Cu)　framework.　This　leads　to　improved　pyridine　adsorption　capabilities.　The　mixed-valence　metal　oxide　forms　a　type　II　semiconductor　heterojunction,　which　accelerates　carrier　separation　and　promotes　photocatalytic　activity　for　pyridine　denitrification.　©　2023　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry.