Hydroxyapatite Nano Rods (HAp-NR) was synthesized from Perna viridis shell bio-waste by chemical precipitation method followed by annealing with addition of poly vinyl alcohol (PVA). The formation of HAp-NR was confirmed by FTIR and XRD analysis. SEM and TEM images confirms rod like structure of HAp and the EDX studies have confirmed the presence of Ca, P and O with Ca/P ratio = 1.61 in HAp-NR. Removal of uranium (VI) from aqueous solution by batch adsorption experiments was investigated using HAp-NR. The influence of pH, contact time, initial U(VI) concentration, temperature and ionic strength on adsorption of U(VI) onto HAp-NR were carried out. The adsorption of U(VI) onto HAp-NR was confirmed by EDS elemental mapping, FTIR, and XRD studies. Kinetics of adsorption followed the Elovich model and the adsorption process reached equilibrium within 90 min. Adsorption isotherm data agreed well with the Langmuir isotherm model and HAp-NR exhibits maximum experimental adsorption capacity of 293.6 mg g−1 at 298 K. Temperature dependent adsorption studies reveals the endothermic nature of U(VI) adsorption onto HAp-NR. The adsorbent can be reused by leaching the adsorbed U(VI) by equilibrating with 0.05 M Na<inf>2</inf>CO<inf>3</inf>. Hence, the present study reveals that HAp-NR derived from Perna viridis shell bio-waste could be a potential simplistic nanomaterial for environmental remediation. © 2023 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.