Nanostructured ZnO has been synthesized by using two simple steps, i.e. ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP) and chemical bath deposition (CBD) methods on glass substrates. The crystal structure, morphology, photoluminescence (PL) emission, and photocatalytic activity for cyanide degradation were studied. From the X-ray diffraction (XRD) examination, it was observed that the ZnO had the hexagonal wurtzite structure with the preferred orientation of (100). The field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) image displayed that the ZnO had grass-like and bush-like nanostructures. The PL spectrum exhibited the near band-edge emission (NBE) peak at ∼380 nm. The photocatalytic activity of the nanostructured ZnO for cyanide degradation in aqueous solution was evaluated under warm-white lamp (color temperature of 2700 K) and cool-daylight lamp (color temperature of 6500 K) irradiations, resulting enhanced cyanide degradation rates in presence of the nanostructured ZnO.