Gelatin (Gel) encapsulation onto activated carbon (AC) with catalase (CAT) was developed as an alternative method for CAT immobilization in this study. The immobilized CAT with AC encapsulated by Gel as the supporter accounted for 65.69% of the native enzyme activity. Furthermore, the properties of the immobilized CATs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Among free CAT and the two immobilized CATs, the immobilized CAT with AC encapsulated by Gel as the supporter showed the highest relative enzymatic activity and a high stability in a broad range of pH values and temperatures, and its residual activity was 80% after 15 uses, whereas the immobilized CAT with AC as the supporter was retained at a level of only 50% under the same conditions. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 1498-1502, 2013