DFT ANALYSIS OF FENETHYLLINE (CAPTAGON): INVESTIGATING ITS INTERACTION WITH GRAPHENE AS A POTENTIAL ADSORBENT


Мehmeti V., Мula V., Maiga M. D., Seydou M., Dagdag O., Berisha A., ...Daha Fazla

Macedonian Journal of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, cilt.44, sa.1, ss.39-52, 2025 (SCI-Expanded) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 44 Sayı: 1
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.20450/mjcce.2025.3098
  • Dergi Adı: Macedonian Journal of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.39-52
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: adsorption, Captagon, density functional theory, graphene, molecular dynamics simulation, Monte Carlo simulation
  • Sivas Cumhuriyet Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Fenethylline, commonly known as Captagon, is a stimulant with amphetamine-like properties that has gained notoriety due to its widespread illicit use, particularly in conflict zones. Its ease of synthesis and environmental persistence necessitate effective remediation strategies. This study investigates the ad-sorption potential of graphene (G) for Captagon removal using a multi-scale computational approach, in-cluding density functional theory (DFT), Monte Carlo (MC), and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The interaction between Captagon and graphene was analyzed in both perpendicular and parallel adsorp-tion configurations. The results indicate that the parallel orientation exhibits superior adsorption stability, with an adsorption energy of –51.15 kcal mol⁻1, primarily driven by π–π stacking interactions. Frontier molecular orbital (FMO) analysis further reveals significant alterations in graphene's electronic properties upon Captagon adsorption, with noticeable shifts in the Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital (HOMO) and Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital (LUMO) energy levels and bandgap (Egap). The molecular dy-namics simulations confirm the stability of the Captagon-graphene complex, reinforcing graphene's po-tential as a viable adsorbent. These findings highlight graphene's efficiency in Captagon removal, sug-gesting its broader applicability in water purification and environmental remediation strategies.