A di-n-butyl phthalate （DBP）degrading bacterium Rhodococcus ruber was isolated from mangrove soil,and its degrading characteristics were studied.The results showed that the bacterium could grow well on the substrate with DBP as the sole source of carbon and energy,and the DBP of 50 mgL-1 could be completely degraded after 48 h.Under aerobic condition,the tentative pathway proposed for DBP degradation was through monoester initially,then phthalic acid,and finally CO2 and H2O.
