Pseudomonas luteola grew well in media containing low glucose concentration (0.125%) and no nitrogen source. It had 95% color removability within 5 days through shaking-static incubation process. It was found that the azoreductase of P. luteola was an inducible enzyme; it reacted with RP2B in a first order reaction. The azo dye acted as an inducer without serving as a growth substrate. The metabolic product of the degradation of RP2B by P. luteola was orthanilic acid. P. luteola's high RP2B degradation ability, low nutritient requirement and shaking-static decolorization process enable it to be used in the treatment of industrial effluent containing azo dyes.