Valorization Strategies for Oil Waste in Architecture and Urbanism

Abstract

Deep-sea oil spills and industrial waste devastate ecosystems, threaten human health, generate long-term economic losses, and disrupt society. At the same time, the construction sector faces material scarcity and urgent sustainability demands, creating an opportunity to repurpose these residues within circular-economy frameworks. This study examines how waste generated by oil spills and petroleum-related industrial processes can be transformed into construction materials. Although such residues are typically managed as hazardous waste and disposed of through landfilling or incineration, a systematic literature review reveals growing experimentation with their reuse in cement, asphalt, and brick production. The review identifies three key patterns: a rapid but geographically uneven expansion of research, increasing integration between remediation processes and construction innovation, and a broader shift toward circular thinking that reframes contaminated residues as material resources rather than liabilities. These findings show how material science, architectural design, and urban infrastructure can converge to repurpose oil-contaminated waste into viable building components.