A　four-way　coupling　CFD-DEM　model　is　originally　developed　in　this　work　to　investigate　the　sedimentation　of　adhesive　particles　in　viscous　fluids.　In　this　model,　the　particles　are　traced　by　the　discrete　element　method　based　on　the　JKR　contacting　theory,　and　the　fluid　flow　is　resolved　by　the　lattice　Boltzmann　method　combining　with　large　eddy　simulation.　Three　benchmark　problems　are　first　investigated　to　validate　the　LBM-LES-DEM　scheme,　and　then　the　sedimentations　of　non-adhesive　and　adhesive　particles　are　further　discussed　in　detail.　Results　indicate　that　the　drafting-kissing-tumbling　process　identified　during　the　settling　of　non-adhesive　particles　is　significantly　different　from　that　of　adhesive　ones,　and　separation　will　not　happen　if　the　vdW　adhesion　between　particles　becomes　strong　enough.　Moreover,　the　settling　of　adhesive　particles　is　found　to　be　faster　than　non-adhesive　ones,　and　this　can　be　reasonably　interpreted　by　the　agglomeration　effect　that　takes　place　during　the　settling　of　adhesive　particles.　©　2021　Elsevier　B.V.