Current Knowledge and Future Challenges on Bacterial Degradation of the Highly Complex Petroleum Products Asphaltenes and Resins

Petroleum products consist mainly of aliphatics, aromatics, asphaltenes and resins. After oil exploitation, the concentrations resins are high in reservoirs; however, they also petroleum pollutants most recalcitrant to degradation, leading viscosity. A sizable amount work has been dedicated understand degradation mechanisms aliphatics aromatics; comparison, little carried out on asphaltene resin degradation. This review discusses our current knowledge understanding More specifically, it sheds light date these pollutants, highlights major gaps that limit their pathways. It presents new potential research areas can be explored fill gaps.