Surfactant-coated lipases have been utilized as a biocatalyst for the resolution of racemic ibuprofen. S-(+)-ibuprofen was selectively transferred to the ester form by Mucor javanicus or Candida rugosa lipase. The enzymatic activity of lipases in organic media was remarkably enhanced by coating with a nonionic surfactant. The reaction rates of the coated lipases were increased around 100-fold that of the powder lipases.