Degradation of high energetic material hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) by a microbial consortium using response surface methodological approach

Abstract Soil and water get polluted with hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) during its manufacturing, storage use for civil military purposes. RDX has toxic effects on living non-living environment is a recalcitrant compound. Therefore, the remediation of this compound necessary. Microbial degradation can be suitable sustainable option to reduce deleterious impact environment. optimization energetic munition employing consortium native bacterial species, isolated from an actual contaminated site, was performed. The experiment planned three independent variables (initial concentration, inoculum size microbes, duration experiment) dependent (percentage removal RDX, optical density, nitrite release). Both were analyzed by response surface methodology (RSM) using Box–Behnken design. statistical analysis variance (ANOVA) depicted high regression coefficient, R 2 = 0.9881 statistically significant p -value fitted into quadratic model percentage RDX. Results showed initial concentration 40 mg/L, inoculation 6 mL time 12 days optimal reduction up 80.4%.