Abstract
Pharmaceutical and phenolic contaminants in aquatic environments pose significant environmental and human health risks due to their persistence, toxicity, and resistance to conventional treatment systems. In this study, a halophilic bacterial strain exhibiting a unique dual functionality—simultaneous biodegradation of mixed phenolic compounds and antibiotics along with biosynthesis of cerium oxide (CeO₂) nanoparticles—was successfully isolated and applied for wastewater remediation. The biosynthesized CeO₂ nanoparticles were characterized using UV–DRS, FTIR, XRD, and SEM analyses, confirming a stable cubic fluorite structure with an average crystallite size of ~ 10–13 nm and an optical band gap of 2.5 eV. The degradation performance was evaluated under nanoparticle-assisted batch and reactor treatment conditions, achieving a maximum removal efficiency of 56.53% within 6 h. FTIR and GC–MS analyses confirmed the transformation of complex pharmaceutical pollutants into simpler and less toxic intermediates, indicating effective catalytic–biological degradation. Based on the identified intermediates, a plausible degradation pathway for mixed phenolic compounds was predicted, elucidating the sequential biochemical transformations involved. Ecological safety assessment using phytotoxicity assays with Vigna radiata demonstrated a clear reduction in toxicity and significant improvement in plant growth compared to untreated samples, highlighting the potential of this integrated microbial–nanoparticle strategy as a sustainable and scalable solution for advanced pharmaceutical wastewater treatment.
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All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.
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Acknowledgements
Authors would like to thank Stella Maris College (Autonomous) for providing SEED Money funding that helped us to carry out the research. We would like to thank DST-FIST, CRIST LAB Stella Maris College for FTIR analysis and SAIF -IIT Madras for assisting SEM analysis.
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M. Mariyam Fathima: Conceptualization; Investigation; Methodology; Validation; Writing original-draft K. Veena Gayathri, Gayathri Rangasamy: Conceptualization; Investigation; Methodology; Validation; Supervision P. Senthil Kumar, N.P. Harini: Conceptualization; Visualization; Formal Analysis; Data curation. K. Veena Gayathri, Gayathri Rangasamy: Conceptualization; Investigation; Methodology; Validation; Supervision. P. Senthil Kumar, N.P. Harini: Conceptualization; Visualization; Formal Analysis; Data curation.
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Fathima, M.M., Harini, N.P., Rangasamy, G. et al. Degradation of pharmaceutical contaminants in sewage wastewater using biosynthesised nanoparticle produced by halophilic bacterial strain and phytotoxicity. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-37427-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-37427-9
