A macroporous hydrophobic poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) support has been prepared using a multiple porogen and used for the immobilization of Candida sp. 99-125 lipase. The conditions of the lipase immobilization on the support were optimized and an optimum activity (780U/g) was obtained. After immobilization, the thermal stability of the lipase was increased in the temperature range 30-50℃, and its stability in the pH range 6.0-9.0 was also increased. The optimum temperature after immobilization was increased by 5℃. The enzyme preparation had increased relative activity at pH 6.0-9.0 and a maximum activity at pH 8.0. The esterification reaction of cetyl alcohol and oleic acid was efficiently catalyzed by the enzyme preparation with the yield of ester being 98%. Operational stability tests indicated that the ester yield was still as high as 50% after 15 batch cycles.
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