Boron-doped diamond (BDD) film electrodes using Ta as substrates were employed for anodic oxidation of salicylic acid (SA). The effects of operational variables including initial concentration, current density, temperature and pH were examined.The results showed that BDD films deposited on the Ta substrates had high electrocatalytic activity for SA degradation. There was little effect of pH on SA degradation. The current efficiency (CE) was found to be dependent mainly on the initial SA concentration,current density and temperature. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) was reduced from 830 mg/L to 42 mg/L under a current density of 200 A/m2 at 30 ℃.