Abstract: The microencapsulated Penicillium purpurogenum Li-3 cells were prepared with the entrapment technique of liquid-core microcapsules from sodium alginate (SA) and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) in this paper. The preparation conditions and catalytic performances of the microencapsulated cells were studied, and the effects of different factors on the diameter, mechanical strength, breakage rate and catalytic performance of microencapsulated cells were investigated. The optimal conditions of concentration of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose 1.4%, sodium alginate 1.2%, the CaCl₂ 1.0%, the CaCl₂ 0.5% in solidification process, and the amount of bacteria 3% were obtained for microencapsulated cells. And after continuous use for 9 batch cycles, 56.9% residual activity of the microencapsulated cells remained. The results suggested that the microencapsulated cells possessed comparatively high mechanical strength and stability. This paper provides technical support for high efficiency bioconversion of glycyrrhizin to glycyrrhetinic acid monoglyceric acid (GAMG).