An amperometric phenol biosensor was constructed by using poly(glycidylmethacrylate-co-vinyl ferrocene) grafted iron oxide nanoparticles for detection of different phenolic compounds (catechol, aminophenol, phenol, p-cresol, pyrogallol). The poly(glycidylmethacrylate-co-vinyl ferrocene) and nanoparticles were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The copolymer grafted iron oxide nanoparticles and Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) were covalently attached on gold (Au) electrode surface. The effect of pH, temperature and characteristic features such as; reusability and storage stability were studied. The electrode showed good response time within similar to 3 s. The electrocatalytic response showed a linear dependence on the phenolic compounds concentration ranging from 0.5 to 17.0 mM. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.