Polyaniline-(enzyme-hydrolyzed lignin)(PANI-Lignin) nanocomposites were prepared via an in situ polymerization from aniline by using enzyme-hydrolyzed lignin (EHL) as a dispersant.The EHL content ranging from 0 to 30 wt% was used to optimize the structure and properties of the PANI-Lignin nanocomposites.The PANI-Lignin nanocomposites were characterized by using FTIR

UV-Vis spectra

field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM)

transmission electron microscopy (TEM)

thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and wide angle X-ray diffraction.Meanwhile

the silver ions adsorbability of the PANI-Lignin nanocomposites was examined by a static sorption technique.It was found that the EHL content affected greatly on the structure and properties of the PANI-Lignin nanocomposites.The typical FE-SEM and TEM images of the PANI-Lignin nanocomposite with the EHL content of 10 wt% showed that nanoparticles with an average diameter of 70 nm were obtained.The adsorption capacity of silver ions onto the PANI-Lignin nanocomposites with the EHL content of 0 wt%~30 wt% increased first

and then decreased.The maximal adsorption capacity was up to 565.4 mg/g for the PANI-Lignin nanocomposite with the EHL content of 10 wt% and the initial silver ions concentration of 0.05 mol/L.The product of PANI-Lignin composite with the EHL content of 10 wt% after adsorption was investigated by transmission electron microscopy and wide angle X-ray diffraction.The results showed that silver nanobelts with length up to 1 cm

width of 0.220~4.38 m and thickness of 219~311 nm were achieved after adsorption of silver ions onto the PANI-Lignin nanocomposite with the EHL content of 10 wt%.This result indicates that the PANI-Lignin nanocomposite possesses a strongly reactive adsorbability of silver ions.Therefore

the successful preparation of the PANI-Lignin nanocomposites can provide an effective method to the removal and recovery of silver ions from wastewater.