Breathable Green Paints for Buildings

Last month brought alarming reports of exceedingly high pollution levels blanketing vast areas of Lombardy and the Po Valley. Air quality monitoring stations detected significantly elevated levels of particulate matter (PM), sometimes surpassing legal limits.

In a short span of time the news went viral on social media, capturing the attention of newspapers and the public, shedding light on an issue that affects our daily lives, but is frequently overlooked or disregarded.

It’s quite evident that we live in a society where global interconnectedness and the ease of shipping products worldwide have made us neglect the steep cost to environmental health. Recent international conferences have stressed the need for collective efforts to limit environmental damage and, where possible, correct the "non-green" policies of the recent past. It is now undeniable that many countries are proactively working to reduce their environmental impact, not only by implementing sustainable and eco-friendly policies but also by raising public awareness and allocating more funds to research.

The University of Surrey Research

The answer to pollution comes from a study conducted by a group of scientists at the University of Surrey. Their study, published in the journal of the American Society for Microbiology—a key institution in the field—details the revolutionary capabilities of their latest creation: "green living paint."

This special paint can absorb carbon dioxide from the surrounding air and release up to 0.4 grams of oxygen per day. This CO2-to-oxygen conversion happens through photosynthesis, thanks to tiny cyanobacteria in the paint. After extensive research and numerous experiments, the scientists selected a specific strain of extremophilic cyanobacteria (Chroococcidiopsis cubana PCC 7433) that can survive in very harsh environments.

The cyanobacteria are immobilized in mechanically robust bio-coatings that form after heating to 37°C, drying, and subsequent rehydration. Once this process is complete, the cyanobacteria can start photosynthesis, capturing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.

The Italian Startup: Airlite

"Airlite" is the groundbreaking product from AM Technology, an Italian company in the industrial technology sector. This all-natural paint, as CEO Antonio Cianci explains, harnesses the same mechanism used by nature to reduce air pollutants that we breathe. Once applied and exposed to light, the paint can absorb nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, and fine particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) up to 90%. Additionally, it effectively eliminates bacteria, molds, and viruses from the surfaces it coats.

Airlite achieves this through a semiconductor material that generates small electrostatic charges. Free electrons combine with oxygen and water vapor, producing negative ions that neutralize harmful substances upon contact.

Potential uses

The "green living paint," resulting from the University of Surrey's research, stems from an experiment lasting just over a month. It represents a significant advancement in the field of bio-coatings, albeit one that still requires extensive research. Scientists, however, argue that due to the extremophilic characteristics of the organic material, it could potentially be used in the colonization of Mars. Indeed, if it could be stabilized and the lifespan of the cyanobacteria trapped in the compound could be extended, it would provide a source of oxygen in a dry and inhospitable environment like the Red Planet.

While the British researchers' product may take a few more years to be available, the Italian paint is already in use. Smog-eating paints like Airlite have already been employed in various urban regeneration projects. One example is "Hunting pollution," the largest anti-smog mural created in Rome in 2018. Another recent example is the restoration of a mural in the Rebibbia metro station square (Rome), created by the famous Italian cartoonist Zerocalcare. The artists involved in the restoration chose to use photocatalytic paints capable of purifying the surrounding air.

To sum up, the clear benefits and versatility of this technology show great promise. Within a few years, entire neighborhoods might be covered with smog-eating paint, effectively cleaning the air like forests do naturally.

Translated by Iuliana Cindrea

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