[heyhey]

I would like to determine if a given material surface (curved) contains phosphonates.

I was thinking to use enzymes that cleave ATP to see if they would work to cleave any possible phosphonates on the surface then maybe look at a UV or IR spectrum, but I don't have access to these sort of enzymes. I then thought of doing X-ray elemental analysis, but unfortunately also don't have access to this instrumentation. I would do the water drop contact angle test, except that I do not think it would work so well on a curved surface.

Any ideas on different approaches?

[MOTOBALL]

Formation of blue phosphomolybdate complex, as used for TLC detection???
See Google.
Or do you want selective detection of phosphonate in presence of phosphate ?

Regards

[Babcock_Hall]

P-C bonds in phosphates are generally not hydrolyzed by enzymes that hydrolyze P-O bonds.  However, I would have to see the putative substrate before commenting further.  The use of total phosphate assays (in which phosphonate, phosphate esters, etc. are converted into inorganic phosphate and the phosphate complexed to molybdate) might be appropriate.