In this study, a novel Pandoraea sp. strain WL1 capable of mineralizing p-xylene as sole carbon and energy source was isolated from the activated sludge of a pharmaceutical wastewater treatment plant. A nearly complete degradation of 16.6 similar to 99.4 mg L-1 p-xylene in the liquidzphase was achieved within 6 similar to 18 h accompanied by 15.9 similar to 56.3 mg dry cell weight (DCW) L-1 for bacterial growth. A complete pathway for p-xylene degradation by strain WL1 was presented through identification of a major intermediate (p-toluic acid) and final products (2.193 g(CO2) g(p-xylene)(-1) Of CO2 production and 0.215 g(DCW) g(p-xylene)(-1) of bacterial yield). Kinetics of bacterial growth and p-xylene degradation were evaluated using Haldane-Andrews model and pseudo first-order model, respectively. Furthermore, a biotrickling filter (BTF) was employed to evaluate the application of strain WL1 on the removal of gas-phase p-xylene under gas flow rates of 0.41 similar to 1.98 m(3) h(-1) for inlet loading rates of 5 similar to 248 gm(-3) h(-1). The BTF inoculated with strain WL1 proved to be robust against fluctuations of gas flow rates and inlet p-xylene concentrations. All the results obtained highlight the potential of strain WL1 for the treatment of p-xylene. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.