Removal of hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), from aqueous solution by a novel materials, Fe-modified steam exploded wheat straw (Fe-SEWS), was investigated in batch studies. Various factors including pH, contact time, and Cr(VI) concentration were taken into account and promising results obtained. The applicability of the Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms for the present system was tested. Fe-SEWS could remove Cr(VI) successfully either from synthetic wastewater or from actual electroplating wastewater, and the highest removal efficiency was 96.84 and 96.00%, respectively. Adsorbed Cr(VI) can be recovered by desorbing and the desorption rate reached 87-90%. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.