Preparation of porous polyvinyl alcohol gel containing an immobilized enzyme

A process for the preparation of a porous gel containing an immobilized enzyme or enzyme-producing cell, comprising:

• (A) mixing (i) a 5 to 30 w/w% aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol having a saponification degree of not lower than 95 mol% and an average polymerization degree of not lower than 1,000, with (ii) an enzyme or enzyme-producing cell, and (iii) activated carbon powder in an amount of 8 to 40% by weight based on the polyvinyl alcohol;
• (B) pouring the resulting mixture into a container of any desired form;
• (C) dehydrating the mixture by leaving the mixture to stand at room temperature or a temperature of from 30.degree. C. to 40.degree. C. in the container up to a dehydration ratio of not lower than 50% to gelate the mixture in the container whereby the resulting gel has the form of the container;
• (D) immersing the resulting gel in water, and
• (E) removing the gel from the water and drying the gel.