A method of manufacturing a remediation material uses a biogenic material as a substrate and involves preparing the surface of the substrate to enable a chemical reaction, and performing template-driven surface derivatization on the substrate to provide a net positive charge on the substrate. The remediation material may be placed into contact with surface water, ground water, soil, or sediment by at least one of a permeable reactive barrier, direct well injection, or direct introduction of the remediation material into soil or sediment, to remove contaminants from the surface water, ground water, soil, or sediment.