Owing to its high sorption capacity for precious metals (especially palladium), the potential of the chitosan biopolymer for catalytic applications was investigated. The catalyst was prepared in two steps: sorption of the palladium, followed by chemical reduction. Two different supports derived from chitosan were tested: a glutaraldehyde cross-linked chitosan and a chitosan derivative that was prepared by preliminary reaction with a sulfate solution (sulfate cross-linking). Three different reduction treatments were tested: treatment with sodium borohydride, treatment with sodium formate, and reduction with hydrogen, which was generated in situ by reacting the material with a sulfuric acid solution in the presence of Zn. The catalytic activity was determined through a very simple reaction: the reduction of chromate in the presence of an electron donor (formate ions).