A coupled three-dimensional (3-D) model, combining hydrodynamics with biochemical reactions, was developed to simulate the local transient flow patterns and the dynamic behaviors of cell growth and phenol biodegradation by yeast Candida tropicalis in the bubble-column bioreactor, using the computational fluid dynamic (CFD) method. In order to validate this proposed model effectively, the validation of the local hydrodynamic characteristics of the gas-mineral salt solution (gas-liquid) two-phase system, with the phenol concentration of 1200 mg/L, and with the absence of cells, was performed in a square-sectioned bubble column bioreactor using the LDA system and conductivity probe. Furthermore, the validation of phenol biodegradation behaviors by yeast Candida tropicalis at different initial concentrations of phenol and cell was also carried out in the above bubble-column bioreactor. The results indicated that the model simulations had a satisfying agreement with the experimental data. Finally, the local instantaneous flow and phenol biodegradation features including gas holdup, gas velocity, liquid velocity, cell concentration and phenol concentration inside the bioreactor were successfully predicted in different-scale bubble columns by the proposed model. (c) 2006 American Institute of Chemical Engineers.