The objective of this work is the examination of the combined adsorption-permeation process for the removal of trivalent chromium from the aqueous phase. Two types of supported membranes are developed on the top surface of an asymmetric alpha-Al(2)O(3) tubular ceramic substrate by the sol-gel method: the first one was made of gamma-Al(2)O(3) while the second one of gamma-Al(2)O(3) or TiO(2). The synthesized membranes are subsequently adapted to an ultrafiltration unit operating in a continuous cross flow mode, and are investigated for the removal of Cr(III) from the aqueous phase. The adsorption capacity of gamma-Al(2)O(3) and TiO(2) is examined in single batch experiments at different pH values and it is found that maximum chromium removal is observed for TiO(2), at pH = 5. It appears that the adsorption capacity for TiO(2) is not affected by the adsorbent dosage. The combined adsorption-permeation process is then studied in the membrane ultrafiltration unit for the treatment of a 0.5 mg L(-1) solution; negligible chromium effluent concentration was measured, for both types of membranes, the one with the TiO(2) layer appearing to have a higher efficiency. The examination of membrane surface by SEM and TEM revealed the formation of a chromium layer, that was attributed to the membrane layer acidic sites. FT-IR studies showed that the membrane with the highest chromium removal capacity presented a high percentage of strong Bronsted acidic sites. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.