<p>UV filters such as benzophenone-3 (BP-3) are widely used in personal care products (PCPs) and are recognized as emerging contaminants (ECs) that enter ecosystems through recreational activities and sewage discharge. This study examined the toxicity of BP-3 to microalgae and explored the bioremediation potential of <i>Chlorella vulgaris</i>. Acute toxicity was assessed over 96&#xa0;h following OECD Guidelines 201 (OECD, OECD Guidelines for the Testing of Chemicals, Section 2, 2011) at graded concentrations of BP-3 (0.01, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 3, 5, and 10 mg L^− 1 for <i>C. vulgaris</i>. After 96&#xa0;h, the highest growth inhibition (69.12%) occurred at 10 mg L^− 1. Pigment and protein content also decreased significantly in a concentration-dependent manner. According to the EU Directive 93/67/EEC, BP-3, with IC₅₀ values of 5.31 mg L^− 1 at 72&#xa0;h and 3.09 mg L^− 1 at 96&#xa0;h, is categorized as toxic to aquatic organisms. A study was also conducted to assess the efficacy of <i>C. vulgaris</i> in the biodegradation of BP-3 for 10 days, with samples analyzed for BP-3 concentration every two days. HPLC analysis revealed that the highest removal of 88.2% was achieved on the 10th day for the initial BP-3 concentration of 0.5 mg L^− 1 followed by 85.4% for 3 mg L^− 1 BP-3. Biodegradation (81.42%) was the primary removal process, followed by bioaccumulation (1.40%), bioadsorption (2.30%), and abiotic removal (6%). In the biodegradation process of benzophenone-3 (BP-3), benzophenone-1 (BP-1) is an intermediate metabolite. This study highlights BP-3 toxicity in green algae and identifies <i>C. vulgaris</i> as a potential agent for removing BP-3 from sewage, filling the gap in studies combining toxicity and bioremediation in a single organism.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>