Mesoporous zirconia modified by ceria has been synthesized through a surfactant-assisted route by using zirconyl oxychloride and ceric ammonium nitrate as precursors and dodecylamine as a template. The assynthesized inorganic-template hybrid possesses high surface area (275 m(2) g(-1)) and large pore volume (0.52 cm(3) g(-1)). A template-free mesoporous zirconia-ceria with a decreased surface area of 80 m(2) g(-1) and pore volume of 0.07 cm(3) g(-1) was formed by heat treatment of the as-synthesized matrix at 500 degrees C for 2 h. The introduction of as small as 2 mol% ceria into the zirconia lattice has helped in stabilizing the technologically important tetragonal (t-) phase of zirconia up to 800 degrees C. The sample obtained even after calcination at 500 degrees C exhibits high adsorption capacities, similar to 85% for chromium(VI) ions from aqueous solutions without any adjustment of pH, at room temperature, and within a period as short as 1 h. These present studies show that the mesoporous zirconia modified by ceria could be considered as a potential adsorbent for removing toxic Cr(VI) ions from aqueous solutions. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.