The sorbent power of hydrotalcite compound [Mg3Al(OH)(8)](2)CO(3)xH(2)O for Cr(VI) from water solution has been evaluated. The adsorption behaviour of Cr(VI) was investigated at different initial concentration of adsorbate, contact time, pH, temperature and adsorbent dose by batch equilibrium technique. The extent of adsorption decreased from 23.2 mg to 4.9 mg with increase in pH from 2.0 to 10.0. The adsorption of Cr(VI) proceeds predominantly by the anion-exchange mechanism. A reaction kinetic study was undertaken by considering adsorption of the Cr(VI) on the outer surface as well as diffusion within the pores of the adsorbent. The mass-transfer coefficients as a function of temperature were calculated to explain the results. The adsorption follows first-order kinetics. A Langmuir isotherm model fits the equilibrium data well. Thermodynamic parameters such as Delta G(0), Delta H-0 and Delta S-0 were calculated to predict the nature of adsorption. Desorption studies showed that about 95.7% of Cr(VI) can be desorbed from the adsorbent at 0.1 M NaOH. The efficiency of the adsorbent to remove Cr(VI) from synthetic wastewater has also been tested.