Catechol 2,3-dioxygenase was purified from recombinant strain E. coli CNU312 carrying the tomB gene which was cloned from toluene-degrading Burkholderia cepacia G4. The purification of this enzyme was performed by acetone precipitation, Sephadex G-75 chromatography, electrophoresis and electro-elution. The molecular weight of native enzyme was about 140.4 kDa and its subunit was estimated to be 35 kDa by SDS-PAGE. It means that this enzyme consists of four identical subunits. This enzyme was specifically active to catechol, and$K_(m)$ value and $V_(max)$value of this enzyme were 372.6 $mu$M and 39.27 U/mg. This enzyme was weakly active to 3-methylcatechol, 4-methylcatechol, and 4-chlorocatechol, but rarely active to 2,3-DHBP. The optimal pH and temperature of the enzyme were pH 8.0 and $40^{circ}C$. The enzyme was inhibited by $Co^(2+)$, $Mn^(2+)$, $Zn^(2+)$, $Fe^(2+)$, $Fe^(3+)$, and $Cu^(2+)$ ions, and was inactivated by adding the reagents such as N-bromosuccinimide, and $ ho$-diazobenzene sulfonic acid. The activity of catechol 2,3-dioxygenase was not stabilized by 10% concentration of organic solvents such as acetone, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, ethyl acetate, and acetic acid, and by reducing agents such as 2-mercaptoethanol, dithiothreitol, and ascorbic acid. The enzyme was inactivated by the oxidizing agent $H_(2)$$O_(2)$, and by chelators such as EDTA, and ο-phenanthroline.