Polyaniline-lignosulfonate　composite　hollow　spheres　were　synthesized　by　using　one-step　unstirred　polymerization　of　aniline　in　the　presence　of　lignosulfonate.　Novel　nitrogen-containing　hollow　carbon　nanospheres　were　prepared　by　direct　pyrolysis　of　the　polyaniline-lignosulfonate　composite　spheres　at　different　temperatures　under　a　nitrogen　atmosphere.　Thermal　behavior　of　the　polyaniline-lignosulfonate　composite　spheres　was　studied　by　TG-DTG,　FTIR　and　element　analyze　instruments.　The　resultant　carbon　spheres　were　characterized　by　SEM,　XRD　and　nitrogen　adsorption-desorption　measurement.　It　was　found　that　the　pyrolysis　products　of　the　polyaniline-lignosulfonate　composite　spheres　were　made　up　of　uniform　hollow　carbon　nanospheres　with　an　average　diameter　of　135　nm.　Furthermore,　the　hollow　carbon　nanospheres　exhibit　high　BET　surface　area　range　from　381.6　m2　g-1　to　700.2　m2　g-1.　The　hollow　carbon　nanospheres　could　be　used　as　adsorbents　of　papain.　The　papain　adsorption　capacity　for　the　carbon　spheres　prepared　at　1200　°C　was　up　to　1161　mg　g-1　at　an　initial　papain　concentration　of　10　mg　mL　-1　at　25　°C.　©　2011　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.