Abstract: Biosurfactant originated from petroleum degrading-bacteria is indispensable for degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in microbes. The emulsification of biosurfactants can promote the decomposition of petroleum, therefore, searching noval petroleum degrading-microbes is necessary and significant to copy with oil contamination. This paper reviews the petroleum degrading-bacteria that can secrete some kinds of biosurfactants by Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas, the types of biosurfactants and applications; there are lipopeptide and glucolipid biosurfactants that are studied well at present, most strains can produce mixed biosurfactants. which can be used to degrade different hydrocarbons in petroleum; and the mechanisms of biosurfactants under the degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons by microbes, biosurfactants can reduce the surface tension of petroleum, change the membrane structure of microorganism, promote the contact between microorganism and petroleum, and improve the utilization of petroleum by microorganism, to provides the idea for further research on biosurfactants.

Key words: petroleum pollution, petroleum biodegrading bacteria, biosurfactants