A　reductive　cellulose-based　aerogel　(VTCA)　was　fabricated　from　cellulose　by　introducing　valonea　tannin　through　cross-linking　reaction.　VTCA　owned　high　porosity　of　more　than　96%　with　the　average　pore　size　of　30–50　µm,　and　it　exhibited　good　adsorption　performance　for　Au(III)　at　a　wide　pH　values　range　(1−8)　with　the　max　adsorption　capacity　of　243.1　mg　g−1.　VTCA　showed　good　adsorption　performance　for　Au(III)　under　the　interference　of　various　co-existing　ions.　The　adsorption　obeyed　the　pseudo-second-order　kinetic　model　and　the　Langmuir　adsorption　isotherm　model,　and　temperature　rise　was　favorable　for　adsorption.　The　adsorption-reduction　mechanisms　mainly　involved　electrostatic　interaction,　chelation　adsorption　and　reduction.　Au(III)　could　be　effectively　adsorbed　onto　the　surface　of　VTCA　by　electrostatic　attraction　and　chelation,　and　then　reduced　in　situ　to　Au0　by　phenolic　hydroxyl　on　tannic　structure.　This　study　provides　a　new　adsorbent　with　the　advantages　of　convenient　preparation　and　high　efficiency,　and　it　has　great　application　prospects　in　the　enrichment　and　recovery　of　precious　metals　in　waste　liquid　and　the　treatment　of　oxidized　pollutants.　©　2023　The　Institution　of　Chemical　Engineers