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The aerobic microbial treatment of a groundwater contaminated with several organic compounds was investigated. This microbial process was combined with posttreatment by activated carbon. Mixed cultures were immobilised on polyurethane foam carrier material in a fluidised bed reactor. The main contaminants benzene and chlorobenzene were almost completely eliminated. Elimination rates remained high even at hydraulic retention times of about two hours. A complete elimination of the haloorganic compounds resistant to microbial degradation was achieved by subsequent adsorption on activated carbon. On the basis of the elimination rates and hydraulic retention times, established by these investigations, a technical scale plant combining microbial degradation and polishing adsorption can be designed. Due to the high degree of microbial mineralisation the presented process offers economic advantages over conventional methods. The quantity of residual waste products for disposal is also minimised.