In this study, hydrochars and pyrochars prepared from animal manures were characterized and were used to remove Sb (III) and Cd (II) from aqueous solution. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis revealed the interaction between Cd (II) and C-O and C=O groups within biochars and between Sb (III) and C-O, C=O and OH groups, respectively. Additionally, the lower absolute value of zeta potential of biochar after loading Sb (III) and Cd (II) suggested the occurrence of surface complexation. Existing primarily in the form of Sb (OH)(3), the maximum adsorption capacities (Q(max)) for Sb (III) were lower than those for Cd (II). Due to the lower contents of surface polar functional groups and less negative surface charge, hydrochars exhibited lower Qmax for Sb (III) and Cd (II) than pyrochars. However, hydrochars in this study had higher sorption capacities for Cd (II) than most of plant-based pyrochars reported by other literature. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.