Thermal and hydrothermal synthesis of WO3 nanostructure and its optical and photocatalytic properties for the degradation of Cephalexin and Nizatidine in aqueous solution

•The use of direct heating method to synthesize WO3 nanoparticles.•The use of hydrothermal method to synthesize WO3 nanoparticles.•Systematic evaluation of prepared WO3 nanoparticles as photocatalyst.•Investigate the optical property of WO3 nanoparticles.•Evaluation of photocatalytic degradation of pharmaceuticals under visible LED light irradiation.