Hot　electron-induced　cathodic　electrochemiluminescence　of　the　Ru(bpy)　32+/S2O82-　system　was　investigated　at　an　oil　film-covered　carbon　paste　electrode　(CPE)　under　cathodic　pulse　polarization　for　the　first　time.　Compared　with　other　electrodes,　the　CPE　is　of　lower　background,　better　stability　and　reproducibility.　The　method　is　also　applied　to　the　determination　of　catechol.　Under　the　optimum　conditions,　the　linear　correlation　between　the　quenched　ECL　intensity　(ΔI)　and　the　logarithm　of　catechol　concentration　(log　Ccatechol)　was　observed　over　the　range　of　2.0×10-10　mol/L-4.0×10-9　mol/L　and　4.0×10-9　mol/L-4.0×10-7　mol/L　with　the　limit　of　detection　(LOD)　of　2.0×10-10　mol/L,　which　is　lower　than　the　other　reported　methods.　The　proposed　method　is　applied　to　determine　catechol　in　reservoir　water.　The　mean　recoveries　of　83.3%-99.0%　and　the　relative　standard　deviations　(RSDs)　of　0.8%-2.2%　were　obtained.　©　2012　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.