Hydrogel selectively removes graffiti from street art without damaging original paint

A team led by chemist Piero Baglioni from the University of Florence has developed a nanostructured fluid that can remove unwanted tags from street art while preserving the underlying artwork. The hydrogel, loaded with non-toxic solvents, releases cleaning agents slowly to target only the top layer of paint. The product was tested successfully on a mural in Florence. It will be commercialized by CSGI Solutions for Conservation of Cultural Heritage, a university consortium funded by European Union programs. The research was presented at an online meeting of the American Chemical Society. Previous methods like chemical cleaners or sandblasting often damaged the original painting. The gel addresses the challenge of vandalism on street art, such as William Kentridge's Triumphs and Laments frieze in Rome, which was repeatedly defaced.