Phthalic anhydride is a toxic and non-biodegradable organic compound and is widely used for the production of dyes. This paper has investigated the electrochemical oxidation of phthalic anhydride in an undivided cell at different experimental parameters such as pH, current density and supporting electrolytes on the anode of titanium substrate coated with mixed metal oxides of RuO2, IrO2, SnO2 and TiO2 prepared by thermal decomposition method. The surface morphology and the structure of the above anode were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, electron dispersion microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The study shows that the electrode exhibits good electro catalytic activity together with chemical stability during the treatment of the phthalic anhydride. At pH 3, the maximum removal of COD of 88% with energy consumption of 30.5 kW h kg−1 was achieved by the addition of 10 g l−1 NaCl in 0.2 mol dm−3 Na2SO4 at 5 Adm−2. This electrolytic investigation offers an attractive alternative method for the destruction of industrial effluents contaminated with phthalic anhydride.