Toluene degradation performances were studied in a 10 L Two-Phase Partitioning Bioreactor (TPPB). The liquid phase consisted of a mixture of water and PDMS 50 (PolyDiMethylSiloxane

i.

e

. silicone oil

viscosity of 46 mPa·s) in the volume ratio of 75%/25%. Two series of experiments were carried out:in the first

the reactor was sequentially supplied with toluene whereas in the second

toluene was continuously supplied. Activated sludge from the wastewater treatment plant of Beaurade (Rennes

France) was used at an initial concentration of 0.5 dry mass g·(mixture L)

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. The elimination capacity (EC) was investigated as well as the change in biomass concentration over time. Toluene biodegradation was very efficient (removal efficiency

RE=100%) for toluene flows ranging from 0.2 to 1.2 ml·h

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corresponding to elimination capacities of up to 104 g·m-

3

·h

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. For a toluene flow of 1.2 ml·h

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the biomass concentration measured at the end of the experiment was 4.7 dry mass g·(mixture L)

-1

. The oxygen concentration in the liquid phase was clearly not a limiting factor in these operating conditions.

Based on these results

an extrapolation leading to the design of a large-scale pilot TPPB can now be considered to study toluene degradation performances in industrial conditions.