CLEANER streets could be on the way following a £100,000 deal signed by an Oxford University spin-off company.

Steam cleaning company Proventec will use an invention by Oxford Catalysts in a nine-month programme to develop a portable steam cleaner.

The process uses a cheap catalyst to produce steam instantly from a liquid fuel, starting from room temperature, without the need for a boiler, power cables, external heat source or generator.

A compact, safe, portable machine could be used in the fast-growing markets for industrial steam cleaning, including street cleaning, food processing, packaging plants and hospitals.

Roy Lipski, chief executive of Oxford Catalysts, said: "This is a significant step for us as a company, allowing us to further the commercialisation of our steam generation technology."

David Chestnutt, chief executive of Proventec, said: "We are extremely excited about the commercial potential for this unique method of steam generation.

"We believe that this development will open new markets for use of steam as a cleaning and disinfectant medium."

Oxford Catalysts recently raised £14m from stockmarket investors to recruit 25 staff and set up its headquarters on a business park near Oxford.

The catalysts are based on over 19 years of research at the university's Wolfson Catalysis Centre, headed by Prof Malcolm Green.