A　novel　spherical　cellulose　adsorbent　with　amide　and　sulphinate　groups　was　used　for　a　first　reduction　of　trichloroacetic　acid(TCAA)　and　a　subsequent　adsorption　of　generated　species,　haloacetic　acids.　The　removal　mechanism　involved　TCAA　reduction　by　sulphinate　groups　and　the　adsorption　of　the　haloacetic　acids　through　electrostatic　interaction　with　amide　group.　Investigation　of　product　formation　and　subsequent　disappearance　reveals　that　the　reduction　reactions　proceed　via　sequential　hydrogenolysis,　and　transform　to　acetate　ultimately.　Adsorption　of　haloacetic　acids　was　ascertained　by　low　chloride　mass　balances(89.3%)　and　carbon　mass　balances(75.1%)　in　solution.　The　pseudo-first-order　rate　constant　for　TCAA　degradation　was　(0.93±0.12)　h–1.　Batch　experiments　were　conducted　to　investigate　the　effect　of　pH　value　on　the　reduction　and　adsorption　process.　The　results　show　that　the　reduction　of　TCAA　by　sulphinate　groups　requires　higher　pH　values　while　the　electrostatic　attraction　of　haloacetic　acids　by　amino　group　is　favorable　in　more　acidic　media.　©　2016,　Jilin　University,　The　Editorial　Department　of　Chemical　Research　in　Chinese　Universities　and　Springer-Verlag　GmbH.