Candida cylindraceae lipase was immobilized by adsorption to various hydrophilic and hydrophobic supports and studied with respect to the esterification rates of a primary and a secondary alcohol, respectively, in organic media. The reaction rates were compared with the rate of esterification with “free lipase”. When the secondary alcohol, (R, S)-1-phenylethanol, was used the highest reaction rates were measured for lipase adsorbed to the hydrophobic supports. When the primary alcohol, heptanol, was used “free lipase” exhibited the highest reaction rate. A kinetic explantation of these results is proposed.