In the present study, the mesoporous alpha-Fe2O3 nanorods have been prepared through self-sacrificial template route, which alpha-FeC2O4 rodlike precursor is employed as template. The growth mechanism of alpha-FeC2O4 rodlike precursor is investigated on the basis of a series of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) characterization of the products obtained at different durations. Transmission electron micrograph (TEM) observations together with nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurement for the mesoporous alpha-Fe2O3 nanorods show the formation of mesoporous nanostructure with an average pore size of 4.6 nm and a surface area of 124.6 m(2)/g. One-dimensional mesoporous alpha-Fe2O3 nanostructures are employed as adsorbent to remove Cr(VI) from aqueous solution. The kinetic study and adsorption isotherm are examined in batch experiments. The kinetic process is described by a pseudo-second-order rate model very well. The adsorption data fits well to the Langmuir model. The maximum adsorption capacity of Cr(VI) uptake on the adsorbent is 22.72 mg/g at 25 degrees C. (C) 2012 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.