On the applicability of nanodiamonds produced by detonation synthesis for phenol testing in aqueous media

It was found that the catalytic effect of modified nanodiamonds (MND) in the H2O2–4-aminoantipyrine–phenol oxidative azo coupling reaction is due to microimpurities of iron and copper ions on the surface of nanoparticles. The efficiency of MND as a catalyst is determined by the amount of surface impurities of these ions and can be doubled by their additional adsorption on nanoparticles. Using MND for phenol indication ensures a linear yield of the colored product of the azo coupling reaction over an analyte concentration range of 0.05–10 μg/mL. The possibility of reusing MND for phenol testing in aqueous samples was demonstrated.