Two　modes　of　acclimation　and　inoculation　were　investigated　in　a　cross-flow　trickling　biofilter　to　remove　toluene　which　was　employed　for　the　first　time　with　ceramic　pellets　as　the　media　and　the　sludge　from　coke　plant　as　the　microbial　seed.　In　mode　1,　intermittent　acclimation　was　implemented　by　adding　toluene　solution　as　the　only　carbon　source　with　ceramic　pellets　immerged　in　the　reactor　at　the　same　time.　After　the　cross-flow　trickling　biofilter　started　for　15　days,　the　removal　efficiency　reached　75%.　In　mode　2,　the　microorganism　for　inoculation　was　acclimated,　screened　out　and　cultivated　in　a　rocking　incubator　with　toluene　as　the　only　carbon　source.　After　the　cross-flow　trickling　biofilter　started　for　10　days,　the　removal　efficiency　reached　80%　The　results　show　that　using　cross-flow　trickling　biofilter　to　remove　toluene　is　feasible　and　the　spray　liquid　is　distributed　more　uniformly　in　it;　Mode　2　to　start　the　system　excelled　model　with　shorter　start-up　time　and　higher　removal　capacity.