<p>Phenol biodegradation was evaluated in batch and continuous flow microbial fuel cells (MFCs). In batch-operated MFCs, biodegradation of 100–1000 mg L<sup>−1</sup> phenol was four to six times faster when graphite granules were used instead of rods (3.5–4.8 mg L<sup>−1</sup> h<sup>−1</sup> vs 0.5–0.9 mg L<sup>−1</sup> h<sup>−1</sup>). Similarly maximum phenol biodegradation rates in continuous MFCs with granular and single-rod electrodes were 11.5 and 0.8 mg L<sup>−1</sup> h<sup>−1</sup>, respectively. This superior performance was also evident in terms of electrochemical outputs, whereby continuous flow MFCs with granular graphite electrodes achieved maximum current and power densities (3444.4 mA m<sup>−3</sup> and 777.8 mW m<sup>−3</sup>) that were markedly higher than those with single-rod electrodes (37.3 mA m<sup>−3</sup> and 0.8 mW m<sup>−3</sup>). Addition of neutral red enhanced the electrochemical outputs to 5714.3 mA m<sup>−3</sup> and 1428.6 mW m<sup>−3</sup>. Using the data generated in the continuous flow MFC, biokinetic parameters including <i>μ</i><sub>m</sub>, <i>K</i><sub>S</sub>, <i>Y</i> and <i>K</i><sub>e</sub> were determined as 0.03 h<sup>−1</sup>, 24.2 mg L<sup>−1</sup>, 0.25 mg cell (mg phenol)<sup>−1</sup> and 3.7 × 10<sup>−4</sup> h<sup>−1</sup>, respectively. Access to detailed kinetic information generated in MFC environmental conditions is critical in the design, operation and control of large-scale treatment systems utilizing MFC technology.</p
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