Exploring the promising application of Be12O12 nanocage for the abatement of paracetamol using DFT simulations

Abstract

Abstract The removal of paracetamol from water is of prime concern because of its toxic nature in aquatic environment. In the present research, a detailed DFT study is carried out to remove paracetamol drug from water with the help of Be12O12 to eliminate the related issues. Three different geometries (CMP-1, CMP-2, CMP-3,) are obtained with the highest adsorption energies value (E ads) of − 31.2316 kcal/mol for CMP-3 without any prominent structural change. It is observed from the study that O atom from the carbonyl group (C=O) and H atom from O–H group successfully interact with O and Be atoms of the nanocage respectively. Natural bonding orbitals analysis reveals charge transfer to paracetamol drug from Be12O12 nanocage with maximum charge transfer of − 0.159 e for CMP-3 with bond angle of 1.65 Å confirming the stability of the CMP-3 among the optimized complexes. The quantum theory of atoms in molecule concludes that the interaction between paracetamol drug molecule and Be12O12 is purely closed-shell weak electrostatic in nature in CMP-1 and CMP-3 and shared interaction in CMP-2. The thermodynamics analysis witnesses that the process is exothermic and spontaneous. The regeneration study reveals the reversible nature of the adsorbent. The overall study presents Be12O12 nanocage as a potential adsorbent and may be used in future for the purification of water from a number of emerging pollutants.