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.
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