Experiments were set up in order to enrich styrene-degrading fungi in
biofilters under conditions representative for industrial off-gas trea
tment. From the support materials tested, polyurethane and perlite pro
ved to be most suitable for enrichment of styrene-degrading fungi. The
biofilter with perlite completely degraded styrene when amounts rangi
ng between 290 and 675 mg/m3 in the influent gas were present. An elim
ination capacity of at least 70 g styrene per m3 filter bed per hour w
as calculated.