The adsorption and desorption of chromium(VI) ion on activated carbons in aqueous solution were studied. Adsorption experiments of Cr(VI) on pretreated activated carbons showed that the pH dependence of adsorption rates can be explained by the difference of the adsorbed species. Also, the reduction rates of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) by activated carbons in acidic solutions were quantitatively determined. In desorption experiments, a high recovery rate (90%) was obtained for activated carbons treated with adsorption at pH = 6 and elution by a 0.1 mol L−1 NaOH solution.