An　amphiphilic　cellulose　aerogel　(HCNC-TPB/TMC)　was　fabricated　by　grafting　1,3,5-Tris　(4-aminophenyl)benzene　(TPB)　and　trimesoyl　chloride　(TMC)　onto　the　aldehyde　nanocellulose　through　Schiff　alkali　and　substitution　reaction.　The　obtained　HCNC-TPB/TMC　exhibited　good　morphology　with　cellulose　fiber　and　owned　abundant　hydrophilic　amino　and　carboxyl　groups　and　hydrophobic　aromatic　groups.　The　batch　adsorption　experiments　demonstrated　that　HCNC-TPB/TMC　showed　excellent　adsorption　performance　(Qmax　=　526.32　mg　g−1)　for　sodium　diclofenac　(DCF),　wide　pH　applicability　(4–10)　and　outstanding　stability　and　reusability.　The　DCF　adsorption　obeyed　the　pseudo-second-order　kinetic　model　and　the　Langmuir　isotherm,　and　underwent　a　spontaneous　exothermic　process.　The　main　adsorption　mechanisms　involved　electrostatic　interaction,　hydrogen　bonds,　π-π　stacking　interaction　and　hydrophobic　effect.　Importantly,　the　introduced　carboxyl　aromatic　groups　on　TMC　could　effectively　strengthen　the　hydrogen　bonds　and　the　π-π　stacking　between　HCNC-TPB/TMC　and　DCF.　©　2021　Elsevier　Ltd