We put forward a new and ingenious method for the preparation of a new adsorbent by soaking, carbonizing and activating the mixture of hygroscopic salt and biomass material. The new adsorbent has high porosity, uniform distribution and high content of CaCl2, and exhibits high adsorption performance. The ammonia uptake and specific cooling power (SCP) at 5 min adsorption time can reach as high as 0.19 g?g-1 and 793.9 W?kg-1, respectively. The concept of utilizing the biomass materials and hygroscopic salts as raw materials for the preparation of adsorbents is of practical interest with respect to the potential quantity of biomass materials around the world, indicating that there would be a new market for biomass materials.