Microwave-assisted one-pot preparation of magnetic cactus-derived hydrochar for efficient removal of lead(Ⅱ) and phenol from water: Performance and mechanism exploration

•Cactus-derived magnetic hydrochar is prepared by one-pot microwave-assisted step.•MW-MHC has maximum adsorption amount of Pb(Ⅱ) and phenol with 139.34 and 175.72 mg/g.•Different adsorption mechanisms of Pb(Ⅱ) and phenol on MW-MHC are deeply analyzed.•MW-MHC has high utilizability and can be easily recycled from water.•MW-MHC is promising in practical wastewater with high tolerance to co-existing ions.