Methods, compositions and kits for masking and subsequent removal of oil,
grease,
rust and other stains from a variety of rough
solid surfaces, including, but not limited to stone, concrete,
asphalt,
stucco brick, and
ceramic. The methods include
coating the stains with an opaque or translucent thin film of a composition that makes the
stain practically indistinguishable against the background, exposing the coated
stain to the elements, such as,
sunlight, air,
moisture, resulting in spontaneous transformation, degradation and subsequent removal of the stains from the
solid surfaces. The compositions include a photocatalyst by itself or the photocatalyst combined with at least one of, a sensitizer, a
dopant, a
mediator, a co-
reagent, a
pigment and a binder. The role of a photocatalyst is to produce highly reactive species or radicals and initiate the degradation of a
stain upon
exposure to elements, such as,
sunlight, air and
ambient humidity.
Artificial light sources can be used instead of
sunlight.