A novel magnetic carbon nanotubes (CNTs) adsorbent with good sorption, magnetic separability, and microwave (MW) regeneration properties was prepared successfully using thermal decomposition. The magnetic CNTs were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray, nitrogen adsorption (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area), and X-ray diffraction and their magnetic properties were measured using a vibrating sample magnetometer. Magnetic nanoparticles (approximate to 10 nm diameter) were dispersed uniformly on the CNTs with a magnetic CNTs surface area of 146.7 m(2) g(-1) and a saturation magnetization of 21.11 emu g(-1). When the magnetic CNTs were used in the sorption of p-nitrophenol, the equilibrium time was 20 min and the sorption isotherms fit the Freundlich isotherm well. The spent magnetic CNTs could be separated magnetically and be regenerated by MW irradiation. After six adsorption and MW regeneration cycles (at 850W for 180s), the adsorption capacity of the magnetic CNTs was higher than that of the virgin magnetic CNTs with a low carbon loss. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.