Lignin derived monomer (2-methoxy-4-propylphenol, Dihydroeugenol, DHE) was used to synthesize a biomass based plumbing pipe cleaning agent (DHEL). DHEL’s metal deposit removal efficiency for an exhumed plastic drinking water pipe was examined. The total metal deposited on 3cm pipe segments was first characterized and heterogeneous metal loading (μg/dm2) along consecutive pipe segments was found. Fe was the most abundant metal species detected, followed by Mn, Ca, Zn, Mg, Cu, Pb and Al. Both DHEL metal removal kinetic and performance studies (0.1 to 10mM) were conducted at room temperature and neutral pH for up to 7days. Results showed DHEL effectively removed metal deposits from exhumed plastic pipe surfaces. By the end of the experiment,≥95% of total metal loadings were removed when DHEL dosage was≥5mM. Both first order and second order kinetic models were used to fit the experimental data. DHEL showed higher favorability for Cu and Zn rather than Fe, Mn, and Pb. DHEL-metal removal mechanisms were proposed as: 1) ligand-promoted minerals dissolution, and 2) ligand-metal complex formation. The biomass derived ligand demonstrated potential as an effective plastic pipe cleaning agent.