The in-situ reaction process was used to prepare composite materials loaded with cadmium sulfide, which were respectively loaded by carbon nanotubes, activated carbon, and carbon nanotube/activated carbon composites for the study of photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange. The results show that when carbon nanotubes and activated carbon are used as carriers, the photocatalytic degradation reaction rate constants are 3.6 times and 8.8 times higher than those without a carrier. The photocatalytic performance of the carbon nanotube/activated carbon composite carrier with a mass ratio of 20: 80 to support cadmium sulfide is significantly higher than that of cadmium sulfide supported by carbon nanotubes and activated carbon respectively, and its photocatalytic degradation reaction rate constant is 30% – 40% higher than that under the condition of activated carbon alone as carrier. It shows that when the modified activated carbon is used as a photocatalyst carrier, carbon nanotubes have a significant effect in improving the efficiency of degrading organic matter.