Self-assembled　poly(N-methylaniline)-lignosulfonate　(PNMA-LS)　composite　spheres　with　reactive　silver-ion　adsorbability　were　prepared　from　N-methylaniline　by　using　lignosulfonate　(LS)　as　a　dispersant.　The　results　show　that　the　PNMA-LS　composite　consisted　of　spheres　with　good　size　distribution　and　an　average　diameter　of　1.03-1.27　μm,　and　the　spheres　were　assembled　by　their　final　nanofibers　with　an　average　diameter　of　19-34　nm.　The　PNMA-LS　composite　spheres　exhibit　excellent　silver-ion　adsorption;　the　maximum　adsorption　capacity　of　silver　ions　is　up　to　2.16　g　g-1　at　an　adsorption　temperature　of　308　K.　TEM　and　wide-angle　X-ray　results　of　the　PNMA-LS　composite　spheres　after　absorption　of　silver　ions　show　that　silver　ions　are　reduced　to　silver　nanoparticles　with　a　mean　diameter　of　about　11.2　nm　through　a　redox　reaction　between　the　PNMA-LS　composite　and　the　silver　ions.　The　main　adsorption　mechanism　between　the　PNMA-LS　composite　and　the　silver　ions　is　chelation　and　redox　adsorption.　In　particular,　a　ternary　PNMA-LS-Ag　composite　achieved　by　using　the　reducing　reaction　between　PNMA-LS　composite　spheres　and　silver　ions　can　be　used　as　an　antibacterial　material　with　high　bactericidal　rate　of　99.95　and　99.99　%　for　Escherichia　coli　and　Staphylococcus　aureus　cells,　respectively.　©　2013　Wiley-VCH　Verlag　GmbH　&　Co.　KGaA,　Weinheim.