Magnetic cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) particles were synthesized via a solvothermal pathway by using the gel of natural lotus roots as bio-gel template. Samples with porous structure and of large specific area (similar to 95.6 m(2)/g) were prepared, which were assembled by CoFe2O4 particles of uniform sizes (ca. 15.0 nm). The annealed CoFe2O4 nanoparticles were proven to be highly efficient catalysts for aerobic oxidation of cyclohexane. Factors such as oxygen pressure, temperature, reaction time and self-catalysis by adding cyclohexanone have been studied in view of improving the conversion of cyclohexane as well as the selectivity of KA oil (cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol). Optimum parameters were found at an initial O-2 pressure of 1.6 MPa when the reaction was conducted for 6.0 h at the temperature of 150 degrees C. The maximum conversion of cyclohexane oxidation reaches 16.43%, and the selectivity 90.3% for KA oil was obtained. This research provides a facile way of developing green catalysts in the aerobic oxidation of cyclohexane. (C) 2017 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.