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• N-doped hydrochar was synthesized by one-step hydrothermal reaction. • Cr(VI) adsorption capacity of hydrochar was enhanced by N-doping. • NH 4 Cl acts as a catalyst and a nitrogen source in preparation of N-doped hydrochar. • N-groups can adsorb Cr(VI) by electrostatic interaction and reduce Cr(VI) to Cr(III). N-doped biochar can effectively eliminate toxic Cr(VI). Here, N-doped hydrochar (NHC) was successfully synthesized by one-pot hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of NH 4 Cl and bamboo, and employed to adsorb Cr(VI). The specific surface area, pore volume, and carbon and nitrogen contents of NHC all increase compared with the undoped hydrochar (HC). NH 4 Cl acts as a cheap nitrogen source to enhance the nitrogen content of hydrochar and as an acid catalyst to accelerate hydrochar carbonization. Adsorption experiments show NHC has higher adsorption capacity than HC for Cr(VI). XPS and FTIR imply the dominant mechanisms of adsorbing Cr(VI) onto two hydrochars are electrostatic attraction, reduction and complexation, but the contributions of surface functional groups in two hydrochars for elimination of Cr(VI) differ. The doped nitrogen in NHC is pivotal in adsorbing and reducing Cr(VI). Hence, NHC prepared from bamboo and NH 4 Cl by one-step HTC is a cheap and efficient adsorbent to eliminate aqueous Cr(VI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]