Bacteria/alginate @ agarose-hydrogel for the removal of COVID-19 antivirals ribavirin: An integrated scheme of concentration and biotransformation

Abstract

The widespread use of antivirals during the pandemic has escalated their detection as emerging organic pollutants in aquatic systems. While chemical oxidation remains the dominant approach for degrading ribavirin (RBV), a representative antiviral, more practical alternatives such as bacterium degradation lack systematic investigation. This study addressed this gap by isolating three functional bacterial strains from medical waste, achieving 88–95 % RBV removal via synergistic mechanisms: adsorption by extracellular substances followed by intracellular enzymatic biodegradation. Furthermore, conserved enzyme active sites were identified by combining molecular docking and UPLC-MS/MS analysis, suggesting the similar metabolic pathways of RBV by three bacteria strains. To address the challenge of cell leakage in fluctuating systems, a stable bacteria/alginate @ agarose hydrogel was engineered enabling simultaneous RBV degradation (86.2 % efficiency) and sustained biomass retention for over 40 days. This immobilized biohybrid system exhibited exceptional operational stability under continuous flow conditions, presenting a scalable solution for advanced wastewater treatment and ecological remediation of antiviral-contaminated aquatic environments.