Partially porous poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) (PS-DVB) particles in the micron size range were prepared by the method of multistep swelling and polymerization involving the use of polymeric porogens. Polystyrene (PS) seeds prepared by dispersion polymerization were expanded in particle size by absorbing styrene and initiator, and then polymerized to form polymeric porogen particles. The newly synthesized PS chains served as the porogens of the PS-DVB particles, resulting from the copolymerization of styrene and divinylbenzene in the swollen polymeric porogen particles. PS-DVB particles with a specific surface area of up to 34 m(2)/g and a pore volume of up to 0.15 cm(3)/g were obtained. The average pore diameter of PS-DVB particles was in the range of 15-24 nm. An increasing amount of toluene used in the copolymerization step increased the pore volume and specific surface area. Lipase from Candida rugosa was immobilized on the prepared PS-DVB by physical adsorption. The optimum temperature for enzymatic activity was increased and the thermal deactivation of enzyme in organic solvent was slowed down by the immobilization. However, compared with soluble enzyme, the immobilized lipase on PS-DVB retained a less activity after the first stage deactivation, suggesting a possible change in the conformation of enzyme molecule by immobilization.