The effect of added dispersing agent tetrasodium pyrophosphate (TSP) on the degradation of phenol by Pseudomonas putida BCRC 14365 in a microporous membrane bioreactor was experimentally studied at 30 degrees C and pH 7. The hollow fibers were pre-wetted with ethanol to make them more hydrophilic. Phenol solution was passed through the lumen of the module and the cell medium was flowed across the shell. All Experiments were carried out at a fixed initial cell density of 0.023 g/L (0.06 optical density). Phenol could be completely degraded with the help of the biofilm formed on the outer surfaces of the fibers even though its level was high up to 3 g/L. It was also shown that the presence of TSP in cell medium could improve biodegradation. The amount of added TSP was optimized to be 1 g/L under the conditions studied. In this situation, 3 g/L of phenol could be completely removed within 76 h, much shorter than the absence of TSP (within 92 h). (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.