Abstract: Biologically active compounds such as enzymes are insolubilized by hydrophilizing a macroporous substantially hydrophobic carrier by hydrolysis of a thin surface layer of the carrier to form free carboxylic acid groups, and thereafter activating the carrier and reacting the activated carrier with a biologically active compound.

Abstract: New polymers and copolymers containing silver and/or copper, useful e.g. in manufacturing dialysis and filtration membranes, ion exchangers, light sensitive layers, catalysts and hydrophilic coatings, are prepared from copolymers or polymer mixtures containing both nitrile groups and strong acidic groups, by bringing them in contact with monovalent silver or copper ions or with their mixtures. Silver and/or copper are attached to nitrile groups by secondary valences, thus forming complex compounds. The probable formulae of the complex groups are: --CN.Ag.sup.+ or perhaps --CN.Ag.sup.+.NC-- and --CN.Cu.sup.+ or perhaps --CN.Cu.sup.+.Cu.sup.+.NC-- , the complex cations forming polymeric salts with strong acidic groups of the same or of an adjoining macromolecule, to which all said nitrile and strongly acidic groups are attached as substituents.