This study was aimed at assessing the ability of Bacillus sp.ev3 to reduce hexavalent chromium into its trivalent form. Bacillus sp.ev3 could tolerate Cr(6+) (4800 microg/mL), Pb(2+) (800 microg/mL), Cu(2+) (200 microg/mL), Cd(2+) (50 microg/mL), Zn(2+) (400 microg/mL), Ni(2+) (4000 microg/mL) and Hg(2+) (50 microg/mL). Bacillus sp.ev3 showed optimum growth at 37 degrees C and pH at 7. Bacillus sp.ev3 could reduce 91% of chromium from the medium after 96 h and was also capable to reduce 84% chromium from the industrial effluents after 144 h. Cell free extracts of Bacillus sp.ev3 grown in the presence of Cr showed reduction of 70%, 45.6% and 27.4% at concentrations of 10 microg Cr(6+)/mL, 50 microg Cr(6+)/mL and 100 microg Cr(6+)/mL, respectively.