The alginate extraction products from Brazilian brown seaweed Sargassum filipendula were studied for chromium biosorption. Batch experiments were conducted at pH 2 and 3 and 20 degrees C to determine the sorption capacity of this biosorbents for chromium (VI) and (III). The biomass was characterized before and after metal binding by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) in order to determine the mechanisms of chromium biosorption. The residue has a high adsorption capacity, close the value obtained with seaweed and higher than that of alginate for both Cr(III) and Cr(VI). XPS analysis of the biosorbents revealed that carboxyl, amino and sulfonate groups are responsible for the binding of the metal ions. The analysis also indicated that the Cr(VI) bound to the biomass was reduced to Cr(III). (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.