Laboratory batch experiments were conducted on heavily contaminated groundwater and chromium ore processing residue (COPR) samples to determine the rate and extent of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] reduction and immobilization by nanoscale iron particles. Laboratory synthesized nanoscale iron particles (< 100 nm, specific surface area 35 m(2)/g) were used for this work. Groundwater ([Cr(VI)] = 42.83 +/- 0.52 mg/L, pH 11.0 +/- 0.5) and COPR samples ([Cr(VI)] = 3280 +/- 90 mg/kg) were collected from an industrial site in New Jersey. Cr(VI) in the water and COPR samples was quickly reduced and precipitated out of the aqueous solution. The surface area normalized reaction rate constant of Cr(VI) reduction by nanoscale iron particles was 0.157 +/- 0.018 mg m(-2) min(-1), about 25 times greater than that by iron powders (100 mesh). One gram of nanoparticles can reduce 84.4-109.3 mg Cr(VI) in the groundwater and 69.3-72.7 mg Cr(VI) in the COPR. This reduction capacity is 50-70 times greater than that of iron powders under the same experimental conditions. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.