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The emerging role of quantum computations in elucidating adsorption mechanism of heavy metal ions: a review

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Abstract

The process of removal of heavy metal ions from contaminated aqueous systems has been studied extensively in terms of mechanisms, influencing factors, thermodynamics and kinetics. However, due to the complex nature of the adsorption process, a thorough understanding related to the adsorption process is still missing. An insight into the adsorption parameters like adsorption energy, preferred adsorption sites, structural dynamics of adsorbents before and after the metal ion removal process, etc. is quite difficult to obtain from experimental studies. Under such conditions, quantum mechanical computations make an important complementary aid in understanding the adsorption process of metal ions effectively, accurately and thoroughly by experimental researchers. Here, in this review paper, we have discussed the importance of quantum computations in elucidating the removal of toxic metal ions and highlighted the mechanistic details of the adsorption process by considering some real-time adsorbents systems for metal ion uptake and recovery from aqueous systems. A comparative analysis is presented throughout to highlight the accuracy and perfection of theoretically supported experimental results in dealing with the heavy metal ion removal process. Finally, optimized geometries, interaction energies, preferable metal ion binding sites and possible mechanism of adsorption on various metal ion adsorbents with special reference to graphene oxide have been discussed in detail.

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Reproduced from Chen et al. (2018) with permission from Elsevier

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Reproduced from Ahad et al. (2016) with permission from Royal Society of Chemistry

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Reproduced from Zheng et al. 2011 with permission from Elsevier

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Abbreviations

GO:

Graphene oxide

Glu@h-ZnO:

Glutathione-coated hollow zinc oxide

AaZrSs:

Acrylamide zirconium(IV) sulphosalicylate

SG-MITC:

Silica gel-supported sulphur-capped PAMAM dendrimers

MCS-Sch:

Magnetic chitosan-(D-glucosimine methyl) benzaldehyde Schiff base

PACA:

Poly(1-amino-5-chloroanthraquinone)

MCB:

Mesoporous cellulose bio-char

DTPA:

Diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid

PSP:

Potato starch phosphate

ACCS:

Amidoxime-chelating cellulose

PVBS:

Poly(4-vinylbenzyl 2-hydroxyethyl)sulphide

PVBSO:

Poly(4-vinylbenzyl 2-hydroxyethyl)sulphoxide

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Acknowledgements

We are thankful to the Department of Chemistry, University of Kashmir, for providing the necessary instrumental facilities to carry out the research work smoothly. We also acknowledge the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, New Delhi, for providing facilities under DST-PURSE Programme (TPN-56945) of the Department of Chemistry, University of Kashmir.

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Correspondence to Altaf H. Pandith.

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Malik, L.A., Pandith, A.H., Qureashi, A. et al. The emerging role of quantum computations in elucidating adsorption mechanism of heavy metal ions: a review. Chem. Pap. 76, 3351–3370 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11696-022-02106-2

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