Chromium is a toxic substance whose presence in waters leads to severe health problems in human beings. The effluents from many process and allied industries contain chromium and its removal is obvious due to the existing statutory norms. In this regard a cheaper and effective adsorbent, modified laterite is used in the present investigation. Experiments were conducted to elicit information of operating parameters such as contact time, pH, initial concentration, adsorbent dosage, temperature etc. The studies revealed that modified laterite is a low cost adsorbent and has the potential to be used in effluent treatment plants. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.