Conversion of crop residues into biochars (BCs) via pyrolysis is beneficial to environment compared to their direct combustion in agricultural field. Biochars developed from soybean stover at 300 and 700 degrees C (S-BC300 and S-BC700, respectively) and peanut shells at 300 and 700 degrees C (P-BC300 and P-BC700, respectively) were used for the removal of trichloroethylene (ICE) from water. Batch adsorption experiments showed that the TCE adsorption was strongly dependent on the BCs properties. Linear relationships were obtained between sorption parameters (K-M and S-M)and molar elemental ratios as well as surface area of the BCs. The high adsorption capacity of BCs produced at 700 degrees C was attributed to their high aromaticity and low polarity. The efficacy of S-BC700 and P-BC700 for removing TCE from water was comparable to that of activated carbon (AC). Pyrolysis temperature influencing the BC properties was a critical factor to assess the removal efficiency of ICE from water. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.