In this study, absorbent and antibacterial alginate fibers were successfully prepared by wet spinning technique. The effects of process parameters including dope concentration, coagulation bath concentration and temperature, and post-draft ratio on morphologies and mechanical properties of alginate fibers were investigated. Moreover, the absorbency and the antibacterial activity of the resultant alginate fibers were performed in vitro. The results showed alginate fibers with excellent microstructure and mechanical properties were obtained when 3.5% of alginate solution was extruded into 3.5% CaCl2 coagulation solution at 30 °C with drawing ratio of 1.2. The adsorption capacities of the resultant alginate fiber in deionized water, simulated wound exudate and PBS buffer were 1.4, 10.9, 25.2 g/g, respectively. In addition, the alginate fibers exhibited excellent antibacterial activities against E.coli and S.aureus with antibacterial rate of 76.5% and 60.5%, respectively.