ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to investigate the removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution by alginate/PVA–hematite composite. Kinetic test showed that Cr(VI) sorption to the composite reached equilibrium after 24 h. Equilibrium test demonstrated that the maximum sorption capacity of the composite was 12.501 mg/g. Further experiments indicated that Cr(VI) removal was very sensitive to solution pH between 2.0 and 9.0—with the highest removal capacity at the highly acidic solution pH, decreasing sharply with increasing pH. The influence of CO32−and HPO42−on the removal of Cr(VI) was important due to their competition with Cr(VI) ions at the sorption sites. The impact of the anions on Cr(VI) removal was in the order of NO3− < SO42− < HPO42− < CO32−. This study improves knowledge of potential applications of alginate/PVA–hematite composite as adsorbent for Cr(VI) removal in water treatment.