The mechanism of N-phosphonomethyl iminodiacetic acid (PMIDA) binding with the Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticle (MNPs) surface by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and thermogravimetry was comprehensive studied. To study of microstructure, size and core structure of synthesized nanoparticles the scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis and Raman spectroscopy were carried out. A new scheme for the tridentate bonding of the phosphonomethyl derivative with surface Fe atoms involving unequal P-O-Fe bonds was proposed. The mechanism of thermal decomposition of PMIDA molecules on the MNP surface was studied using a thermogravimetric analyzer combined with infrared spectrometer. It was shown for the first time that during the thermal treatment of phosphonomethyl-modified MNPs, PMIDA molecules are not desorbed from the surface of MNPs but gradually decompose. We believe that obtained in this work data will be useful for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of phosphonic acid derivatives interaction with MNPs, as well as in the design of new biomedical materials, in which the conjugation of biomolecules with carboxyl groups of PMIDA-modified MNPs is assumed. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.