AbstractReactive microspheres suitable for binding proteins were prepared using emulsifier‐free emulsion copolymerizations of styrene (St) and acrolein (AL) with various molar ratios of monomers St and AL. A maximum polymerization rate was obtained when the molar ratio of the monomers was 1 : 1. The diameter of the latex particles increased with increase in the amount of monomer AL. The amounts of aldehyde groups on the latex particle surfaces were determined by conductometric titration. The binding capacity of the copolymer latexes with spacer molecules was also examine