Electrochemical methods have proved to be particularly effective both for water detoxification (abatement of heavy metals and organic impurities) and sterilization, from natural resources to utilization points, combining these features with low costs and easier handling of equipments. The efficiency of electrochemical methods strongly depends on electrode nature, anodes being of particular importance because they must stand much more severe polarization conditions and have to exhibit good catalytic activity for complex reactions like oxygen and chlorine evolution. The present work is devoted to the preparation and characterization of mixed-oxide electrode coatings based on lrO(2), RUO2 and SnO2, with the scope of finding optimal compositions guaranteeing longer service-life under the critical conditions where oxygen evolution is concomitant with chloride oxidation. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.