Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41397007›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

Quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) modeling for adsorption of organic compounds by activated carbon based on Freundlich adsorption isotherm.

Siyi Ding, Yefan Yang, Ting Tan, Qunshan Wei, Zhemin Shen, Qiong Liu, Xinshan Song, Yuhui Wang, Charles Nzila, Christopher W K Chow

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Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Siyi DingInstitute of Artificial Intelligence, Donghua University, Shanghai, China.
Yefan YangCollege of Mechanical Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, China.
Ting TanCollege of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, China.
Qunshan WeiCollege of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5484-4087
Zhemin ShenSchool of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Qiong LiuCollege of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, China.
Xinshan SongCollege of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, China.
Yuhui WangCollege of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, China.
Charles NzilaSchool of Engineering, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya.
Christopher W K ChowSustainable Infrastructure and Resource Management (SIRM), UniSA STEM, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, South Australia, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The Freundlich isotherm parameters K and 1/n are typically regarded as empirical constants. However, the underlying theoretical basis for the widespread applicability of the Freundlich isotherm in describing adsorption processes for diverse organic compounds remains unclear. In this study, we successfully elucidated the reason by developing two optimal quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models: one correlating K with quantum chemical parameters and another linking 1/n to these parameters. The modeling results demonstrated that both K and 1/n exhibit strong correlations with specific quantum chemical descriptors, indicating that the empirical Freundlich isotherm's applicability is fundamentally linked to the molecular structural characteristics of organic compounds. Key quantum parameters influencing K were identified as ∑q(O + N), q(CH+)max, ELUMO, Fukui(-)max, and Wiberg(C-C)min, suggesting that charge distribution, carbon bond energy, and active site energy are the primary factors governing adsorption efficiency on activated carbon. The QSAR model for 1/n yielded similarly novel and consistent insights, showing that the value of 1/n also correlated with molecular structural characteristics. Both models were rigorously validated and confirmed to be stable, robust, and accurate through standard statistical evaluations. These QSAR models can now be employed to identify whether an organic compound would conform to the Freundlich Isotherm and predict the adsorption efficiency of this compound by activated carbon based on their quantum chemical parameters. As to the practical implications, this study provides a convenient reference method for assessing the applicability of activated carbon adsorption in treating emerging organic pollutants in drinking water plants and a theoretical foundation for developing intelligent management systems in water treatment facilities.

Indexed as

CharcoalModels, ChemicalOrganic ChemicalsQuantitative Structure-Activity RelationshipWater Pollutants, ChemicalAdsorptionWater PurificationCharcoalOrganic ChemicalsWater Pollutants, Chemical

Identifiers

PMID41397007
PMCPMC12704836

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.