The degradation of diuron and 3,4-dichloroaniline (DCA) has been studied at boron-doped diamond (BDD) anode. A three electrode impinging jet cell was used to improve the mass transfer of the reactant to the electrode surface. In the whole range of experimental conditions examined, the reactants were completely mineralised and passivation of the electrode surface was not observed. HPLC and ionic chromatography analyses revealed that the reaction involves the oxidative ring-cleavage and the formation of stoichiometric amounts of chloride and ammonium ions. Depending on the specific experimental conditions, short-chained organic acids were also identified as intermediate products. Values of global current efficiencies greater than 20% were obtained even operating with low reactant concentration (0.17 mm for diuron and 2 mM for dichloroaniline) provided that a suitable ratio between applied current and mass transfer rate was guaranteed. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.