<p>Heavy metal contaminants received a particular concern due to their strong toxicity even at very low concentrations. Chromium (VI) [Cr (VI)] pollutant is basically produced from leather tannery, ore refining, automobile brake lining, chemical and refractory processing, cement-producing plants etc. and it is a potential threat for surface as well as groundwater. In the present study, the potential of different bio-reactive materials derived from agricultural byproducts has been tested through batch experiments. Further, Fourier transform infrared attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) has been conducted to study the functional group generated while preparing activated carbon. Activated Charcoal derived from rice husk and rice straw, maize residue, pine needle were used to study its efficiency for removing Cr (VI). Various biomass has been freshly collected from the experimental farm land of Pantnagar University, India. The results suggested that among the selected agricultural biomass, yield percentage of activated carbon from rice husk was maximum. Proximate analysis suggested that rice husk derived activated carbon has maximum percentage of fixed carbon. Through FTIR-ATR, it has been observed that C = C, C = O, C–H and O–H stretching were taking place at different wave number which were responsible for adsorption of Cr (VI) through activated carbon. It has been observed that the removal efficiency of Cr (VI) through derived activated charcoal from rice husk, maize residue and pine needles were in the range of 70–75%. Out of selected biomass, maximum removal was obtained for activated carbon derived from maize residue.</p>