Method and apparatus for biodegradation of oxygenates

The present invention provides a method of treating groundwater or other water stream(s) contaminated with an oxygenate to degrade said oxygenate which comprises:a) inoculating a biodegrader (1) capable of degrading said oxygenate on a packed activated carbon bed (11) through a rigid tubular instrument having a plurality of holes in the part of the rigid tubular instrument (7) used for inoculation of the carbon bed (11); andb) flowing said groundwater, or other water stream contaminated with said oxygenate through a structure having a top, bottom and sides and a predetermined volume containing said bed of activated carbon having said biodegrader inoculated thereon. and an apparatus for the same. The method is particularly effective for treating water contaminated with methyl t-butyl ether (MTBE) and/or t-butyl alcohol (TBA).