Biological wastes (sawdust, rice husk, coirpith and charcoal) and a naturally occurring mineral (vermiculite) have been tested for their effectiveness in removing Cr from tannery effluent through batch and column experiments. The adsorption capacities of the substrates were also evaluated using isotherm tests and computing distribution co-efficient. The sawdust exhibited a higher adsorption capacity (k = 1482 mg kg(-1)), followed by coirpith (k = 159 mg kg(-1)). The biosorbent and mineral vermiculite in columns were found very effective in removing Cr from tannery effluent. About 94%( removal of Cr was achieved by a column of coirpith, and equally (93%) by a column containing a mixture of coirpith and vermiculite. This study showed that biological wastes are potential adsorbents of Cr, which could be successfully used to reduce the Cr concentrations in tannery effluent. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.