The adsorption of Cr(VI) ions onto various sorbents (chitin, chitosan, ion exchangers; Purolite CT-275 (Purolite 1), Purolite MN-500 (Purolite 11) and Amberlite XAD-7) was investigated. Batch adsorption experiments were carried out as a function of pH, agitation period and concentration of Cr(VI) ions. The optimum pH for Cr(VI) adsorption was found as 3.0 for chitin and chitosan. The Cr(VI) uptake by ion exchangers was not very sensitive to changes in the pH of the adsorption medium. The maximum chromium sorption occurred at approximately 50 min for chitin, 40 min for Purolite 11 and 30 min for chitosan, Purolite I and Amberlite XAD-7. The suitability of the Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption models were also investigated for each chromium-sorbent system. Adsorption isothermal data could be accurately interpreted by the Langmuir equation for chitosan, chitin, Purolite I and Purolite 11 and by the Freundlich equation for chitosan, chitin and Amberlite XAD-7. The chromium(VI) ions could be removed from the sorbents rapidly by treatment with an aqueous EDTA solution and at the same time the sorbent regenerated and also could be used again to adsorb by heavy metal ions. The results showed that, chitosan, which is a readily available, economic sorbent, was found suitable for removing chromium from aqueous solution. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier Ltd.