Treatment of Cr (VI)-containing waste water by peanut shells was studied. The adsorption effect of adsorbent was examined. The thermal adsorption models was studied. Results showed that the optimized conditions of adsorption was pH=7, t=180min, T=30°C. Under this condition, the adsorption rate of peanut shell treatment of 50mg/L Cr (VI)-containing waste water was 71.25%. The adsorption behavior of Cr (VI) with peanut shell could be described with both Langmuir and Freundlich thermal adsorption models, but Langmuir isotherm adsorption model was better compared with the Freundlichr. The maximum saturation adsorption was 5.98mg/g. The adsorption was a preferential adsorption process.