*3.6. A Comparison Study*

A comparison study between the sorption capacities for CIP and LEV with other sorbents in literature are listed in Table 6.

**Table 6.** A comparison between the sorption capacities for CIP and LEV with other sorbents in previous work.


### **4. Conclusions**

Through the use of FTIR, SEM, EDX, and TEM, it was demonstrated that the Fe– Cu/Alg–LS nanocomposite was successfully designed and used to remove the CIP and LEV ions from aquatic solutions. The elimination of CIP and LEV ions was successfully accomplished by the Fe–Cu/Alg–LS nanocomposite. It was also fairly stable at high temperatures. The pharmaceutical concentration and pH level of the solution have a significant impact on sorption capacity. The ideal pH values of 6 and 7 for the adsorption of CIP and LEV ions from contaminated solutions, respectively, were carefully selected. The kinetic models of CIP and LEV ions onto the Fe–Cu/Alg–LS nanocomposite were fitted using the Langmuir adsorption and pseudo-second-order rate equation. After calculating the thermodynamic variables, it was determined that the reaction was spontaneous, exothermic for LEV and endothermic for CIP. The Fe–Cu/Alg–LS nanocomposite sorption was physical. The developed composites demonstrated the potential to be used as an adsorbent in water treatment.

**Author Contributions:** I.A.A., H.S.H., Z.A.A., A.G.A., N.S.A. and A.K. contributed to methodology and writing of the paper. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

**Funding:** This work was assisted financially by the Dean of Science and Research at King Khalid University via the General Research Project (grant number. R.G.P.1/28/43). Also, funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research, King Saud University through Research Group no RG-1441-043 and by Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Researchers Supporting Project number (PNURSP2023R19), Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

**Institutional Review Board Statement:** Not applicable.

**Informed Consent Statement:** Not applicable.

**Data Availability Statement:** Data on the compounds are available from the authors.

**Acknowledgments:** The authors are grateful to the Dean of Science and Research at King Khalid University for making financial support available. The authors also extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research, King Saud University for funding this work through Research Group no RG-1441-043. This research was also funded by Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Researchers Supporting Project Number (PNURSP2023R19), Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

**Conflicts of Interest:** There are no conflicts of interest for the authors to declare.

**Sample Availability:** Samples of the compounds are available from the authors.

#### **References**


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