The enzymes (lipases from Candida rugosa and porcine pancreas) were immobilized on silica aerogels by sol-gel procedure followed by supercritical drying with CO2. Such immobilized enzymes were used as biocatalysts for esterification in supercritical CO2 and near critical propane at 40 degreesC and 100 bar. It was found out that the initial reaction rates in propane rose two to three times in comparison with the same reaction, catalyzed by free lipase. SC CO2 deactivated the non-immobilized lipase in reaction mixture while with the immobilized enzyme the conversion was 35%. The initial reaction rates in propane were 20 times higher than in water medium due to the properties of propane as a medium for esterification of fatty acids. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.