Synthesis of magnetic chrysotile nanotubes for adsorption of Pb(II), Cd(II) and Cr(III) ions from aqueous solution

•Magnetic chrysotile nanotubes were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions.•The products have preferable saturation magnetization (12.78Am2kg−1).•Adsorption behavior had been studied for the Pb(II), Cd(II) and Cr(III).•The products remain higher adsorption capacity toward heavy metal ions than ChNTs.