Major aim of the present study was isolation and screening of multiple polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) degrading bacteria from the historically contaminated coastal sites i.e. Alang-Sosiya Ship Breaking and Recycling Yard (ASSBRY) and Navlakhi Port (NAV), Gujarat, north-west coast of India. Individual bacterial candidate from consortia can be used as lead PAHs degrader for the biological remediation of contaminated sites. For that, significant 14 components of ONR7a Medium were examined using multifactorial statistical design for PAHs degradation. Selected multiple PAHs were [phenanthrene, anthracene (low molecular weight) and fluoranthene (high molecular weight)] frequently found at ASSBRY. A rapid search of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium along with trace elements from a multivariable system was achieved using statistical approach, minimizing the error in determining the effect of medium components. The significant variables identified by this procedure will allow one to rank them in order to decide which to scrutinize for a more detailed study to determine the optimum value to use them further in more precise experiments like Response Surface Methodology.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), natural consortia, ONR7a medium, multiple PAHs degradatio