Efficient　removal　of　oxytetracycline　hydrochloride　(OTC)　from　wastewater　is　of　great　significance　but　extremely　challenging.　Herein,　a　novel　adsorbent　lignin-based　multi-metal　ferrite　biochar　(FeNiZn-LBC)　was　synthesized　through　pyrolysis　with　controllable　temperature　and　hydrothermal　reaction　using　lignin　of　sinocalamus　oldhami　as　raw　material.　The　adsorption　property　of　FeNiZn-LBC　for　OTC　was　systematically　researched,　and　the　results　displayed　that　adsorption　of　FeNiZn-LBC　to　OTC　accorded　with　the　Langmuir　model　and　the　equilibrium　adsorption　capacity　was　476　mg　g−1.　Notably,　FeNiZn-LBC　can　be　regenerated　with　0.100　mol　L−1　NaOH.　Additionally,　we　raised　rational　explanations　for　the　mechanisms　of　adsorption　behavior　based　on　the　zeta　potential　and　XPS　spectra.　The　adsorption　of　FeNiZn-LBC　for　OTC　was　mainly　controlled　by　the　electrostatic　interactions,　hydrogen　bonds　and　complexation　involving　FeNiZn-LBC　and　OTC,　especially　the　metal-oxide　bond　(M-O)　generated　after　loaded　with　multi-metal　ferrite　played　a　positive　role　in　the　removal　of　OTC　from　water.　Our　work　highlighted　the　potential　of　FeNiZn-LBC　for　excellent　adsorption　of　OTC　in　next　generation.　©　2021　Elsevier　Ltd