Phenol-formaldehyde　(PF)　adhesives　modified　with　enzymatic　hydrolysis　lignin　(EHL)　were　synthesized　by　a　one-step　process.　The　phenol　component　of　the　PF　adhesives　was　partially　substituted　by　EHL　extracted　from　the　residues　of　cornstalks　used　to　produce　bio-ethanol.　The　EHL-PF　adhesives　were　used　to　prepare　plywoods　by　hot-pressing.　The　pH　value,　viscosity,　solid　content,　free　phenol　content,　free　formaldehyde　content　and　brominable　substance　content　of　EHL-PF　resins　were　investigated.　The　bonding　strengths　of　the　plywoods　were　determined,　and　the　influences　of　the　replacement　percentage　of　phenol　by　EHL　(a)　and　the　NaOH　content　(b)　on　the　properties　of　the　adhesives　were　investigated.　The　results　showed　that　the　performance　of　the　modified　adhesives　and　the　plywoods　glued　with　them　almost　met　the　Chinese　National　Standard　(GB/T　14732-2006)　for　first　grade　plywood　when　20　wt%　of　the　phenol　was　replaced　by　EHL.　©　2009　Elsevier　Ltd.