GoJelly · Project

Jellyfish-Based Filters That Remove Microplastics from Wastewater

environmentTestedTRL 6

Imagine using jellyfish slime — yes, the gooey stuff that makes them so annoying at the beach — as a natural sponge to catch tiny plastic particles in water treatment plants. That's exactly what GoJelly figured out. They built a filter prototype using jellyfish mucus that traps microplastics before they reach the ocean. And the leftover jellyfish biomass? It gets turned into fertilizer, fish feed, and even ingredients for cosmetics and food products — so nothing goes to waste.

By the numbers

TRL 5-6

Prototype readiness level for microplastics filter

European seas where prototype was tested (Norwegian, Baltic, Mediterranean)

Consortium partners involved in development

Countries represented in the consortium

Total project deliverables produced

SME partners in the consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Microplastics are passing through conventional wastewater treatment systems and entering oceans, rivers, and drinking water — and regulations are tightening fast. Water utilities and environmental agencies need affordable, scalable filtration solutions that actually work. At the same time, jellyfish blooms are increasing across European seas, creating a nuisance problem with no commercial use — until now.

The solution

What was built

The project built a TRL 5-6 prototype microplastics filter using jellyfish mucus as the core filtering material, tested across 3 European seas. It also produced characterization data for jellyfish-derived fertilizer (identifying optimal jellyfish types for plant nutrient contribution), plus research outputs on jellyfish applications in food, feed, and cosmetics — totaling 27 deliverables.

Audience

Who needs this

Municipal wastewater treatment operators facing microplastic discharge regulationsOrganic fertilizer manufacturers seeking new bio-based raw materialsAquaculture feed companies looking for alternative protein sourcesCosmetics and nutraceutical companies interested in marine-derived ingredientsCommercial fishing companies wanting off-season revenue from jellyfish harvesting

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Water and wastewater treatment

enterprise

Target: Municipal water utilities and private wastewater treatment operators

If you are a wastewater treatment company struggling with microplastics passing through your existing filtration systems — this project developed a TRL 5-6 prototype bio-filter made from jellyfish mucus that captures microplastics. It was tested across 3 European seas (Norwegian, Baltic, Mediterranean) with commercial partners. As regulations tighten on microplastic discharge, this gives you a nature-based filtration option built from an abundant, low-cost raw material.

Organic farming and fertilizer production

SME

Target: Organic fertilizer manufacturers and agricultural cooperatives

If you are a fertilizer producer looking for new organic raw materials — this project characterized jellyfish biomass as a viable plant fertilizer. Their deliverable on JF fertilizer product characterization identified which jellyfish types provide the best nutrient profiles for plant production. This opens a new, sustainable feedstock sourced from jellyfish that are already being harvested to supply the filter technology.

Aquaculture and animal feed

mid-size

Target: Fish feed manufacturers and aquaculture companies

If you are an aquafeed producer facing rising costs for fishmeal and protein ingredients — this project demonstrated that jellyfish byproducts from the filtration process can be converted into feed ingredients. With 16 consortium partners across 9 countries validating the approach, the supply chain concept has been tested at a European scale. This could diversify your raw material sourcing while using a resource that currently has little commercial value.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would a jellyfish mucus filter cost compared to conventional microplastic filtration?

The project does not publish specific cost figures. However, jellyfish are an abundant and low-value raw material, and the project explicitly aimed to create municipal demand at competitive prices. Based on available project data, cost modeling would need to come from direct engagement with the consortium.

Can this technology work at industrial scale for a city-sized water treatment plant?

The prototype was developed to TRL 5-6, meaning it was validated in a relevant environment but not yet at full municipal scale. Testing was conducted across 3 European seas with commercial fishers and industry partners. Scaling to a full city plant would require further engineering and piloting beyond what the project delivered.

Who owns the IP and how can a company license this technology?

The project was coordinated by Syddansk Universitet (University of Southern Denmark) within a 16-partner consortium including 3 SMEs and 3 industry partners across 9 countries. IP ownership and licensing terms would need to be negotiated with the consortium. Based on available project data, specific patent filings are not listed in the deliverables.

Are there regulatory approvals for using jellyfish-derived products in fertilizer or animal feed?

The project produced a deliverable characterizing jellyfish fertilizer products, including nutrient profiles suitable for plant production. However, regulatory approval status for commercial sale in the EU is not detailed in the available project data. Any company would need to navigate Novel Food, feed additive, or fertilizer regulations depending on the application.

How long would it take to integrate this into an existing wastewater treatment facility?

The project ran for 4 years (2018-2021) and reached TRL 5-6 prototype stage. Integration into an existing facility would require additional engineering, pilot testing, and regulatory clearance. Based on available project data, a realistic timeline for deployment is not specified — expect further development cycles before commercial installation.

Is there a reliable supply of jellyfish to keep the filters running year-round?

The project addressed this directly by designing a system where municipal demand for filters would create competitive prices for jellyfish raw material, generating off-season jobs for commercial fishers. Jellyfish blooms are increasing across European seas due to climate change, but seasonal variability in supply would need to be managed through harvesting logistics and storage.

Consortium

Who built it

GoJelly brought together 16 partners from 9 countries (China, Germany, Denmark, France, Israel, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia), coordinated by Syddansk Universitet in Denmark. The consortium leans heavily academic with 7 universities and 5 research institutes, but includes 3 industry partners and 3 SMEs (19% industry ratio). This academic-heavy mix is typical for a technology still moving from lab to prototype. For a business looking to adopt this, the key contacts would be the 3 industrial partners and 3 SMEs who were closest to commercial application. The geographic spread across 9 countries and testing in 3 different European seas suggests the technology was validated under diverse conditions, which strengthens the case for broader European deployment.

SYDDANSK UNIVERSITETCoordinator · DK
UNIVERSITY OF HAIFAparticipant · IL
SINTEF OCEAN ASparticipant · NO
NACIONALNI INSTITUT ZA BIOLOGIJOparticipant · SI
FONDATION EUROPEENNE DE LA SCIENCEparticipant · FR
CHRISTIAN-ALBRECHTS-UNIVERSITAET ZU KIELparticipant · DE
UNIVERSITY OF HAMBURGparticipant · DE
CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHEparticipant · IT
ARDITI - AGENCIA REGIONAL PARA O DESENVOLVIMENTO DA INVESTIGACAO, TECNOLOGIA E INOVACAO - ASSOCIACAOparticipant · PT
HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM FUR OZEANFORSCHUNG KIEL (GEOMAR)participant · DE
NORGES TEKNISK-NATURVITENSKAPELIGE UNIVERSITET NTNUparticipant · NO

How to reach the team

Syddansk Universitet (University of Southern Denmark) coordinated this project. SciTransfer can help identify the right contact person and facilitate an introduction.

Order a report on this consortium See SYDDANSK UNIVERSITET profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore licensing the jellyfish filter technology or sourcing jellyfish-derived products? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the GoJelly consortium partners best suited to your needs.

Order a report on this topic More in Environment & Climate