Project description
Cleaning up with Graffiti Blaster
Graffiti is bad for the environment. Its removal is just as difficult and requires plenty of water. With water demand expected to exceed supply by up to 40 % by 2040, solutions for the reduction of water usage are needed. Graffiti removal is costly both financially and environmentally since the process wastes many cubic metres of clean water and leaves behind contaminated water that can be harmful to the environment. The EU-funded EWGB2000 project proposes the Graffiti Blaster, a uniquely closed-loop system where water is separated from the remaining chemicals and available for reuse. Thus, decreasing environmental and financial impact, the project will study the potential ergonomic improvements of the Graffiti Blaster as well as the feasibility of spreading its use to other fields.
Objective
The environmental costs of graffiti removal procedures make them far more expensive than the financial estimations may express. An ordinary graffiti removal procedure requires many cubic meters of drinking water. Waste water is spread around contaminating ground water and causing high exposure of humans (especially children) and animals to the hazardous aerosols.
Currently water shortages affect at least 11% of Europeans and in 20 years from now, global water demand is likely to exceed water supply by 40%. As a result, prices for drinking water might significantly rise. The cleaning industry companies are searching for efficient tools that would balance the rising environmental requirements with their economic efficiency.
Ekowasher Sweden AB offers an unique closed loop system where the residual products are separated and the wash water is purified by a combination of filters and reused.
The water consumption of the Graffiti Blaster is almost zero. Through the specially designed washing nozzles, various surfaces of different porosity can be washed. As the washing water is collected and recycled inside the Graffiti Blaster, the risk of contaminating pollutants being spread by the wash water and the wind is minimized. The Graffiti Blaster’s environmental performance surpasses all other market-available solutions.
In this project we will conduct a deeper analysis of the technical feasibility and of potential ergonomic improvements of the Graffiti Blaster. We will identify the necessary adjustments required for further expansion of the Graffiti Blaster across other industries and market segments. We will conduct an economic feasibility assessment that will indicate the perspectives of entering foreign markets. Moreover, we will investigate business opportunities that may appear through a wider adaptation of our innovation by exploring other segments of the cleaning, decontamination and removal industry.
Fields of science
Not validated
Not validated
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwater treatment processesdrinking water treatment processes
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwater treatment processeswastewater treatment processes
- engineering and technologychemical engineeringseparation technologiesdesalinationreverse osmosis
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsfossil energynatural gas
- medical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologytissue engineeringartificial pancreascontinuous glucose monitors
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinator
103 65 STOCKHOLM
Sweden
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.