The lignin Induline AT was used as model substrate to observe the adsorption of pinosylvin, trans-stilbene, pyrocatechol, resorcinol, hydroquinone, pyrogallol and phloroglucinol. Prior to adsorption the adsorbates were dissolved in diethylether. Infrared spectra of adsorbed compounds were recorded using the diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFTS) technique. Far IR spectra of the adsorbed pinosylvin and polyhydroxybenzenes were used to facilitate the interpretation on the mechanism of adsorption. Vibrational analysis by quantum chemical calculations, available for most of the polyhydroxybenzenes, were utilized. The interaction between adsorbed species and lignin was found to be mainly mediated through the formation of hydrogen bonds.