Economical and highly performed anode material is the critical factor affecting the efficiency of anodic oxidation toward organics. In this work, the graphite felt, a common carbonaceous electrode material, is etched by cobalt oxide to fabricated Co3O4/graphite composite anode to eliminate diuron in aqueous solution. The surface morphology, composition and structure of the Co3O4/graphite composite anode are characterized by scanning electron microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Low-current degradation of diuron is achieved in an anodic oxidation process using Co3O4/graphite composite anode. The influence of the applied current density, initial pH value and initial concentration of diuron on the oxidation efficiency are investigated and optimized. The prepared Co3O4/graphite composite anode exhibited excellent activity for oxidation of 20 mg L-1 diuron, obtaining 100% removal efficiency within 14 min under the condition of applied current density 3 mA cm(-2) and initial pH 2.0. The process is confirmed to possess a non-radical mechanism in which the diuron is oxidized at the catalytic sites of composite anode under the synergy effect of Co3O4/graphite composite and anodic current. The accelerated service life test proved good electrochemical stability of the prepared Co3O4/GF composite electrode. The low energy demand and use of cheap graphite substrate endow the anodic process based on Co3O4/graphite composite anode in this work with great application prospect to effective removal of diuron. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.