New research highlights the efficacy of biochars as sustainable and cost-effective sorbents for cleansing metal(loid)-polluted waters. The study underscores the crucial role of water chemistry in determining the efficiency of metal(loid) removal processes. Investigating the removal of lead [Pb], arsenate [As(V)], and antimonite [Sb(III)], Sampriti Chaudhuri and her coauthors found that background solution composition significantly influenced removal rates, with lead showing removal rates ranging from 29% to 100%, compared to 37% to 92% for arsenate and 20% to 70% for antimonite. The findings emphasize the necessity of considering complex solution compositions when designing biochar sorbents for water remediation purposes.