Protein adsorption onto eight lignocellulosic substances (six lignin preparations and two hemicelluloses) was investigated at pH 4.8 and at two different temperatures (4 degrees C and 45 degrees C). The kinetics of the adsorption of cellulase, xylanase, and beta-glucosidase were determined by enzyme activity measurements. The maximum adsorption capacities, the affinity constants and the binding strengths varied widely and were typically higher for the lignins than for the carbohydrates. As indicated by BET and gel permeation chromatography, different substances had widely different surface area, pore size, weight average molecular weight, and polydispersity index, but these properties were difficult to relate to protein binding. In most cases, an increase in temperature from 4 degrees C to 45 degrees C and a low content of carboxylic acid groups, as indicated by Fourier-Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) spectroscopy, resulted in increased protein adsorption capacity, which suggests that hydrophobic interactions play an important role. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.