Bio-trickling　filters　(BTFs)　can　be　used　for　the　treatment　of　hydrophobic　VOC-contaminated　air.　To　improve　treatment　performance,　two　novel　polydimethylsiloxane　(PDMS)　packing　media　were　produced　and　trialled　in　BTFs　inoculated　with　Cladophialophora　fungus.　The　BTF　packed　with　PDMS/foam　ceramic　composite　filler　showed　superior　performance:　rapid　start-up　within　3　days,　rapid　restart　within　7　days　after　starvation　for　1　month,　a　maximum　toluene　elimination　capacity　(EC)　of　264.4　g　m(-3).h(-1)　at　an　empty　bed　residence　time　of　10　s,　and　a　pressure　drop　that　was　controllable　by　adjusting　the　nutrient　supply　regime.　High-throughput　sequencing　was　used　to　analyse　the　effect　of　spatial　position　on　the　microbial　communities　in　the　top　and　bottom　filler　layers.　Meanwhile,　by　investigating　the　EC　in　the　vertical　direction　of　the　BTF,　spatial　heterogeneity　in　the　fungal　degradation　of　a　hydrophobic　VOC　was　preliminarily　explored.　(C)　2020　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.