Lignin-based　dye　dispersants　have　aroused　an　increasing　interest　due　to　their　environment-friendly　properties.　In　this　research,　the　quaternized　lignin-based　dye　dispersant　(QLD)　was　prepared　using　alkali　lignin　from　masson　pine　sulfate　pulping　liquor　as　raw　materials　by　chemical　modification,　that　is,　sulfonation　and　quaternization.　The　structure　and　performance　characterization　of　alkali　lignin　and　QLD　were　studied.　The　analyses　indicated　that　the　structural　unit　of　alkali　lignin　contained　more　G　type　and　S　type.　Additionally,　it　was　also　proved　that　QLD　contained　quaternary　ammonium　group,　amine　group,　and　sulfonic　group,　which　could　improve　the　dispersion　performance　and　thermostability　of　QLD.　The　results　of　thermogravimetric　(TG)　concluded　that　the　dispersion　performance　and　thermostability　of　QLD　prevailed　over　alkali　lignin.　Compared　with　the　contact　angle　of　water,　alkali　lignin,　and　QLD　with　dye,　the　contact　angle　of　QLD　was　much　better　than　water　and　alkali　lignin,　indicating　that　the　hydrophilicity　and　dispersion　performance　of　QLD　were　superior　to　water　and　alkali　lignin　in　Vat　Olive　T.　©　2017　Taylor　&　Francis.