Utilization of kraft lignin to produce bio-based adsorptive material for effective dye adsorption from industrial wastewater is essential to fulfilling the significant environmental protection needs. Lignin is the most abundant byproduct material with a chemical structure containing various functional groups. However, the complicated chemical structure makes it somewhat hydrophobic and incompatible, which limits its direct application as an adsorption material. Chemical modification is a common way to enhance lignin properties. In this work, the kraft lignin was modified through direct amination using Mannich reaction and oxidization followed by amination as new route of lignin modification. The prepared lignins, including aminated lignin (AL), oxidized lignin (OL), and aminated-oxidized lignin (AOL), as well as unmodified kraft lignin, were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), elemental analysis and H-nuclear magnetic resonance measurements (HNMR). The adsorption behaviors of modified lignins for the malachite green in aqueous solution were investigated well and discussed, as well as the adsorption kinetics and thermodynamic equations. Compared with other aminated lignin (AL), the AOL displayed a high adsorption capacity of 99.1 % dye removal, due to its more effective functional groups. The change in structure and functional groups on the lignin molecules during oxidation and amination had no effect on its adsorption mechanisms. The adsorption process of malachite green on different kinds of lignin belongs to endothermic chemical adsorption, which mainly consists of monolayer adsorption. The modification of lignin through oxidation followed by amination process, afforded kraft lignin a broad potential application in the field of wastewater treatment.