Use of calcium alginate/biochar microsphere immobilized bacteria Bacillus sp. for removal of phenol in water

•Bacillus cereus with high degradation efficiency of phenol was successfully isolated.•Biochar (BC) loaded with bacteria greatly accelerates phenol biodegradation in water.•BC and CABMM enhance bacterial resistance to phenol.•CBAMM has great potential in treating high concentrated phenol in wastewater.