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. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.