A low-temperature hydrocarbon-degrading strain T7-2 was isolated from sea-mud of Bohai polluted area and identified as Rhodococcus erythropolis, which could use diesel oil as carbon source. The optimal temperature and pH for the strain utilizing ethanol was 15 degrees C and 7.8, and the optimal concentration of ethanol and the seed culture was 0.5% and 10(8) CFU/mL, respectively. Inoculated to artificial seawater which was added (NH4)2SO5 2.64 g/L, Na2HPO4 2.5 g/L and yeast extract 0.015 g/L after 7 days of culture at the temperature of 15 degrees C, the rate of degradation was 73.2%. The strain could degrade a large range of n-alkane from C12 to C36.