The biotechnological applications of lipases as biocatalysts for esterification, interesterification and ester hydrolysis reaction requires simple but efficient methods to immobilize the enzyme, yielding highly stable and active biocatalysts which are easy to recover. In this study we present a new method to achieve lipase immobilization by covalent attachment to crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) (CL-PVA). Porcine pancreatic lipase was immobilized on CL-PVA by crosslinking with adipoyldichloride with the activity yield of 63%. This method may be applicable for a wide variety of lipases and such other enzymes. The properties of free and immobilized enzyme were also searched and compared. After the immobilization the results show that, the optimum pH was shifted from 8.5 to 9.0 and the optimum temperature from 30 to 37 degreesC. The immobilized enzyme had good stability (pH, thermal, storage and operational) and has a potential for practical applications. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.