Anthraquinone-2,7-disulfonate (2,7-AQDS), anthraquinone-1-sulfonate (alpha-AQS), anthraquinone-2-sulfonate (AQS), anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AQDS) and anthraquinone-1,5-disulfonate (1,5-AQDS) were selected as redox mediators for Cr(VI) reduction by Escherichia coil BL21. In the presence of 0.8 mmol l(-1) AQS, the Cr(VI) reduction efficiency was 98.5% in 7.5 h, whereas it was only 21-34% in the absence of a mediator or in the presence of alpha-AQS, 1,5-AQDS, AQDS, 2,7-AQDS. A linear correlation, k = 0.768C(AQs) + 1.5531 (R-2 = 0.9935), was found for the reaction constant, k (mg Cr(VI) g(-1) dry cell weight h(-1)) and the AQS concentration (C-AQS). The Arrhenius equation described the Cr(VI) reduction in the tested temperature range, and the pre-exponential factor A was 13.249 mg Cr(VI) g(-1) dry cell weight h(-1),and the activation energy Ea was 28.01 kJ mol(-1). Glucose was the best carbon sources, and the optimum pH was 6.0. The Cr(VI) reduction rate obtained with AQS is a significant improvement over low conventional anaerobic reduction rates. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.