Phosphate　recovery　from　water　is　essential　for　reducing　water　eutrophication　and　alleviating　the　phosphorus　resource　crisis.　In　this　study,　spent　coffee　grounds　and　CaCl2　were　used　as　raw　materials　and　a　modifier,　respectively,　to　create　a　novel　calcium　modified　biochar　(MBC)　for　removing　phosphorus　from　water.　The　modified　biochar　(MBC)　was　the　best　at　removing　phosphorous　when　the　modifier　concentration　was　1.5　M　with　theoretically　maximum　adsorption　capacity　of　70.26　mg/g.　MBC　also　performed　well　in　the　wide　pH　range　of　3–11　under　different　phosphorus　concentration　gradients,　with　phosphorus　removal　efficiency　of　more　than　50　%.　According　to　kinetic　analysis,　the　adsorption　process　at　low　phosphorus　concentrations　(50–100　mg/L)　can　be　more　properly　described　by　the　pseudo-first-order　model,　while　the　pseudo-second-order　model　best　describes　the　adsorption　process　at　high　concentrations　(200–600　mg/L).　The　thermodynamic　analysis　indicated　that　the　adsorption　process　was　spontaneous　and　endothermic.　Characterization　results　revealed　that　surface　precipitation,　complexation,　and　ligand　exchange　were　the　dominant　mechanisms　of　phosphorus　adsorption.　MBC　has　great　potential　to　recover　phosphorus　from　wastewater.　©　2023　Elsevier　B.V.