A method for producing an adsorbent which is stable toward a liquid such as an eluant and which shows excellent reproducibility in selectively adsorbing and separating an object compound, the method includes the steps of: preparing a base material having a surface, in which at least part of the surface of the base material is formed of a material containing as its major component apatite which is represented by the composition formula Ca10(PO4)6((OH)1-aXa)2; preparing a solution containing ions of at least one metal element; substituting at least part of Ca of the apatite by the at least one metal element by bringing the base material into contact with the solution to obtain a substituted base material; and subjecting the substituted base material to heat treatment at 50 to 400° C. for 0.5 to 10 hours, wherein the base material and the substituted base material are not exposed to a temperature exceeding 500° C. for 4 hours or longer from the substitution step to the completion of production of the adsorbent.