The reductive capacity of zero valent iron (ZVI) is extremely restricted by the surface passivation. To address this issue, ball-milling lignosulfonate modified ZVI (LS-ZVI) was prepared and used to determine the reactivity, electron utilization efficiency and application feasibility towards nitrobenzene (ArNO2) removal. The results showed that LS-ZVI could completely remove ArNO2 within 40 min with aniline conversion percentage of ∼95%, while ArNO2 reduction by ZVI was negligible within 180 min. Electrochemical evidence, H2 production, and characterization analysis collectively illuminated that the enhanced ArNO2 reduction by LS-ZVI was attributed to the increased Fe0 exposure that endowed it with excellent electron transfer ability. The inhibited H2 production indicated that the electron utilization efficiency of LS-ZVI towards ArNO2 was close to 100%. Moreover, ArNO2 removal was slightly inhibited under higher solution pH. Except for the obvious inhibitory effect of high concentration NO3−, the effects of co-existing ions (Cl−, NO3−, SO42−, Ca2+, and Mg2+) were little. The presence of Ni(II) had a negligible effect on ArNO2 removal, while high concentration of Cd(II) and Cr(VI) could obviously inhibit ArNO2 reduction. In addition, the excellent reusability of LS-ZVI and the complete ArNO2 removal in groundwater suggested the feasibility of LS-ZVI in practical field remediation.