A　novel　nano-ZnO　functionalized　biochar　with　superhydrophobic　surface　was　successfully　synthesized　and　tested　for　selective　recovery　of　Re(VII)　anions　in　strong　acidic　solutions.　The　as-synthesized　biochar　was　characterized　by　XRD,　XPS,　FT-IR,　EDX,　TEM,　STEM-HAADF,　SAXS,　N2　adsorption-desorption　isotherm　and　water　contact　angle　measurements.　The　characterization　results　revealed　that　the　functionalized　biochar　was　composed　of　highly　dispersed　ZnO　nanoparticles　bound　to　biochar　matrix　and　displayed　superhydrophobicity　with　water　contact　angle　of　about　151–156°.　Because　of　the　synergistic　effect　of　surface　superhydrophobicity　and　metal　affinity,　the　new　biochar　exhibited　excellent　selectivity　and　high　efficiency　to　Re(VII)　in　the　presence　of　various　competing　ions.　Adsorption　mechanism　exploration　found　that　inner-sphere　complexation　on　homogeneous　surface　would　be　the　dominant　interaction,　while　liquid　film　diffusion　was　considered　as　the　rate-controlling　step　in　the　sorption　process.　Due　to　its　excellent　selectivity,　high　efficiency　and　easy　synthesis　process,　the　obtained　superhydrophobic　biosorbent　is　ideal　candidate　for　Re(VII)　recovery　from　copper　smelting　acidic　wastewater.　©　2019　Elsevier　Ltd