The project is led by the Syddansk Universitet in Denmark (SDU), but the Norwegian research institute SINTEF and NTNU (the Norwegian University of Science and Technology) are involved in the hunt for jellyfish that have a talent for catching microplastics.
GoJelly’s goal is to develop a biofilter from the mucus produced by the jellyfish. The mucus can actually adsorb both micro and nanoplastics. The idea is that the biofilter could be used in municipal wastewater treatment plants to stop plastic particles from getting into the sea.
In GoJelly, researchers at NTNU and SINTEF will work together with researchers and fishermen from all over Europe to harvest jellyfish in different European marine areas. In Norway, Periphylla periphylla (helmet jellyfish), which lives in Trondheim Fjord, is the target of the harvest.
The researchers will focus on identifying species that produces the most mucus, and to find effective methods for harvesting and storaging the jellyfish. The functionality and capacity of the filter will also be investigated.
In addition, the project will examine the cultivation of jellyfish for research material and jellyfish for biofilters and other products made from jellyfish, such as human food, feed, fertilizer and cosmetics.
