The magnetic Fe3O4 contained polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan (Fe3O4@PVA/CS) composite nanofibers were successfully synthesized via the electrospinning method and characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR). The composite nanofibers were used as a novel adsorbent for removing toxic chromium (VI) (Cr-VI) in aqueous solution. The doping of Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) into the fibers had a positive effect on the absorption for Cr-VI ions both under neutral and acidic conditions, and the saturated adsorption reached the highest when pH was 3.0. The results of the kinetics of Cr-VI removal on the as-prepared Fe3O4@PVA/CS composite nanofibers suggested a rapid initial loading and a subsequent stable stage, and the adsorption was well described by the pseudo-first-order model. The possible Cr-VI removal mechanism of the magnetic Fe3O4@PVA/CS composite nanofibers was also proposed. (C) 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.