The partial electrochemical oxidation of aqueous phenol, as a model organic pollutant, has been studied using a flow-through electromembrane reactor with a novel ceramic-based membrane as the anode material. The ceramic-based membranes were modified to exhibit electrocatalytic activities by depositing nano-sized electrocatalytic inks on the membrane surfaces. Carbon black-supported antimony doped tin oxide, prepared by sol-gel a method, was used as the electrocatalyst. The experiments were carried out at room temperature at flow rates of 2501 m(-2)h(-1). It was found that phenol is readily oxidized to benzoquinone and organic acids. The amount of energy used for oxidation of phenol was calculated in kWh per gram of phenol converted. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.