A hydrous titanium(IV) oxide was prepared to study the adsorption characteristics and the separation of chromium species. Batch sorption studies have been carried out to determine the effect of pH on the sorption of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) on hydrous TiO2. An excellent separation efficiency of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) was obtained at pH 2. The adsorption percentage of Cr(VI) was above 99%, whereas that of the Cr(111) was less than 1% at this pH. The adsorption isotherm of Cr(VI) on hydrous TiO2 at pH 2 was in good agreement with the Langmuir isotherm. The maximum adsorption capacity of Cr(VI) on TiO2 was 5 mg g(-1). The rate of adsorption of Cr(VI) by hydrous TiO2 with average particle diameter 250 and 500 mum has been studied under particle diffusion controlled conditions. The diffusion coefficients of Cr(VI) for both hydrous TiO2 having average particle diameter of 250 and 500 mum was calculated at pH 2 as 3.84 x 10(-10) m(2) s(-1) and 8.86 x 10(-10) m(2) s(-1), respectively. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.