An innovative and sustainable approach to spray paint graffiti removal from Istrian stone through the silica sol-gel chemistry: A preliminary assessment

•A new methodology to produce and evaluate cleaning systems suitable to remove Graffiti from historic building, masonries and stone artworks was carried out.•A novel series of sustainable hybrid silica gel/dimethylcarbonate systems was achieved.•The polymer colours adsorption efficiency of new systems was assessed through a Test Tube analysis.•Preliminary evaluation of the cleaning efficiency of new systems was performed on aerosol spray painted Istrian stone mock samples.