Nitrile hydratase from Rhodococcus sp. DSM 11397 and nitrilase from Pseudomonas. DSM 11387 both retained activity in various organic/aqueous biphasic mixtures. Both enzymes were not tolerant (66-109% retained activity) of C-8 and C-16 alkanes with log P values greater than 4.0. Some enzyme activity (<10% nitrile hydratase, <60% nitrilase was also retained in monophasic water-saturated C-6-C-11 n-alkanols.