There are also reports of a "semi solid" third phase, considered to be a mixture of a normal PTC with a little of the aqueous phase and a little organic phase. this appears as a thin film siting between the aqueous and organic phases. In this case it is suggested that, rather than the PTC taking reagents back and forwards between the two bulk phases, the third phase allows small amounts of each of the other two to dissolve and mix within it. See J correia, J. Org Chem, 1992, 57 p4555
A solid phase-transfer catalyst, often in the form of beads, that catalyzes a reaction between a liquid and a gas (http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/triphase_catalyst)