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Characterization of phenol metabolization by P. stutzeri N2 was proposed based on the identification of relevant metabolites and enzyme activities of catechol 1,2-oxygenase and catechol 2,3-dioxygenase. P. stutzeri N2 started to grow on 400 mg l−1 phenol with no obvious lag phase, and then phenol decomposition was rapidly completed within 32 h. Results of enzyme activities, UV spectrums of cultures, and the mass spectrum identification of cis, cis-muconic and 2-HMS, which showed that catechol C12O and C23O were acting simultaneously on the fission of the phenol ring. The existence of P-hydroxybenzoic acid and straight-chain saturated dicarboxylic acids in the culture medium showed that carboxylation and hydrogenation were involved during the phenol degradation. Metabolites containing five or four carbons indicated that catechol and its immediate ring-cleavage intermediates could be furthermore metabolized by P. Stutzeri N2. Therefore, P. stutzeri N2 which could degrade phenol with high efficiency and dive...