In　this　work,　a　biochar　was　prepared　from　bamboo　(Acidosasa　edulis)　shoot　shell　through　slow　pyrolysis　(under　300–700 °C).　Characterization　with　various　tools　showed　that　the　biochar　surface　was　highly　hydrophobic　and　also　had　more　basic　functional　groups.　Batch　sorption　experiments　showed　that　the　biochar　had　strong　sorption　ability　to　perrhenate　(a　chemical　surrogate　for　pertechnetate)　with　maximum　sorption　capacity　of　46.46 mg/g,　which　was　significantly　higher　than　commercial　coconut　shell　activated　carbon　and　some　adsorbents　reported　previously.　Desorption　experiments　showed　that　more　than　94%　of　total　perrhenate　adsorbed　could　be　recovered　using　0.1 mol/L　KOH　as　a　desorption　medium.　Pearson　correlation　analysis　showed　that　the　recovery　of　perrhenate　by　the　biochars　was　mainly　through　surface　adsorption　mechanisms　involving　both　high　hydrophobicity　and　high　basic　sites　of　biochar　surface.　©　2016　Elsevier　Ltd