Cr(VI) removal by Scenedesmus incrassatulus was characterized in a continuous culture system using a split-cylinder internal-loop airlift photobioreactor fed continuously with a synthetic effluent containing 1.0 mg Cr(VI) l(-1) at dilution rate (D) of 0.3 d(-1). At steady state, there was a small increase (6%) on the dry biomass (DB) concentration of Cr(VI)-treated cultures compared with the control culture. 1.0 mg Cr(VI) l(-1) reduced the photosynthetic pigments content and altered the cellular morphology, the gain in dry weight was not affected. At steady state, Cr(VI) removal efficiency was 43.5 +/- 1.0% and Cr(VI) uptake was 1.7 +/- 0.1 mg Cr(VI) g(-1) DB. The system reached a specific metal removal rate of 458 mu g Cr(VI) g(-1) DB d(-1), and a volumetric removal rate of 132 mu g Cr(VI) l(-1) d(-1). (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.