Modified biochar treatment media, system and method

A treatment media, system, and method are disclosed which combines adsorptive capacity of a carbon media (e.g., biochar) with chemical treatment characteristics of a red mud substance, e.g., to remove metals and/or other contaminants from waters. The treatment media may also improve biological conditions of affected soils. In an example treatment method, a lignin based material is thermo-chemically decomposed to have a large weight fraction of carbon (e.g., the biochar), and an ore is processed to yield aluminum oxide comprising a variety of iron oxides and having high alkalinity in slurry (e.g., the red mud). The thermo-chemically decomposed lignin based material is combined with the mud material.