Excellent　photocatalytic　performance　and　recyclability　are　crucial　for　the　long-term　use　of　the　photocatalyst.　In　this　study,　5 mol%　Fe　doped　zinc　oxide　(ZF5),　was　freeze-dried　with　bacterial　cellulose　(BC)/sodium　alginate　(SA)　solution　to　fabricate　a　novel　composite　aerogel　capable　of　degrading　methylene　blue　(MB)　under　visible　light.　Ca2+　crosslinking　and　hydrophobic　modifications　were　adopted　to　strengthen　the　aerogel　skeleton　and　enhance　the　cycling　photocatalytic　activity,　meanwhile,　making　the　aerogel　floatable　persistently.　The　influences　of　pH,　ZF5　dosage,　and　initial　solution　concentration　on　MB　degradation　were　investigated.　Benefiting　from　the　synergy　between　the　components　and　the　combined　modification,　the　optimum　composite　aerogel　exhibits　photocatalytic　efficiency　of　up　to　97.4%　at　an　initial　MB　concentration　of　20 mg/L　within　an　irradiation　time　of　80 min.　In　addition,　it　exhibits　a　degradation　efficiency　of　79.7%　even　after　8　cycles,　showing　great　potential　in　visible-light-driven　degradation　of　MB.　©　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　licence　to　Springer　Science+Business　Media,　LLC,　part　of　Springer　Nature　2024.