Jellyfish Filters: Innovative Solution To Clean Polluted Waters

Jellyfish are a potential solution to the problem of plastic pollution in our oceans. The EU-funded GoJelly project aims to use jellyfish mucus to develop a microplastics filter for commercial and public use. Jellyfish mucus can bind microplastics, preventing them from entering marine systems. Additionally, the movement of jellyfish bodies may help disperse oil after spills, acting as natural mixers. Jellyfish mucus can also trap nanoparticles of metal, which conventional water and industrial filters cannot. Furthermore, the Jellyfish Filter by Contech is a stormwater quality treatment technology that combines pretreatment and filtration to remove pollutants such as oil, trash, and fine particles. The filter has been approved by regulatory agencies and is available in various configurations to suit different drainage systems.

Jellyfish mucus can trap nanoparticles of metal and microplastics

Jellyfish mucus has been found to be an effective method for trapping nanoparticles of metal and microplastics. The EU-funded project GoJelly aims to tackle the problem of microplastic pollution by using the mucus produced by jellyfish to develop a microplastics filter for commercial and public use. The project also intends to promote the use of jellyfish as food by publishing a cookbook with dishes prepared using jellyfish.

Research has shown that jellyfish mucus can remove 65-90% of nanoplastics from wastewater samples, outperforming conventional coagulants such as ferric chloride and PAC. The mucus-particle interaction consists of adsorption-bridging and "mesh" filtration, which allows for the effective capture and removal of nanoparticles. This has important implications for the removal of nanoparticles from contaminated water, as the release of nanomaterials into the environment can have detrimental effects on human health and the ecological biosphere.

Jellyfish mucus has been found to be particularly effective in trapping gold nanoparticles and quantum dot nanoparticles, which are commonly used in a variety of areas, including electronics, biomedical applications, nanophotonics, cosmetics, energy, and engineering. By taking advantage of the trapping properties of jellyfish mucus, it may be possible to develop innovative and environmentally friendly products that can help mitigate the negative impacts of nanoparticle pollution.

In addition to trapping microplastics, jellyfish mucus may also play a role in capturing and removing oil from polluted water. The movement of jellyfish bodies can help disperse concentrated patches of oil, acting as tiny mixers that dilute polluted water and mix it with oil slicks. The mucus produced by jellyfish contains nutrients that are essential for the growth of oil-eating bacteria, further enhancing the removal of oil from the environment.

While the potential benefits of using jellyfish mucus as a filter are significant, it is important to note that the interaction between jellyfish and nanoparticles in the environment is complex and not yet fully understood. Further research is needed to explore the potential applications and effectiveness of using jellyfish mucus as a sustainable water treatment technology.

Jellyfish movement may help disperse oil after spills

Jellyfish are fascinating creatures that have existed for millions of years. Beyond their graceful movements in the ocean depths, jellyfish may hold a key to tackling water pollution. The movement of jellyfish could play a significant role in dispersing oil after spills, a phenomenon that has intrigued scientists and researchers alike.

The idea that jellyfish could help clean our seas is an intriguing one. Jellyfish produce mucus when stressed, and this mucus has the ability to trap nanoparticles of metal and other pollutants. This led to the question of whether jellyfish could be used to filter and clean polluted water.

The movement of jellyfish is also being explored as a potential aid in breaking down oil spills. Jellyfish are already known for their energy efficiency in deep waters, with their unique swimming mechanism. They capture water into their bells and then squeeze to eject it, propelling themselves forward. This action creates underwater waves and currents that can move large volumes of water. Scientists believe that this turbulence generated by jellyfish could be significant in breaking down oil spills.

The DROPPS experiment, funded by the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative, is studying the interaction between jellyfish and oil spills. They use a technique called Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) to measure the movement of water as jellyfish swim in a tank. This data will help understand how jellyfish movement impacts oil dispersion.

Additionally, the mucus produced by stressed jellyfish contains nitrogen and oil-degrading bacteria, which can accelerate the breakdown of oil. The bacteria require nutrients to build biomass and increase metabolic rates, and the nitrogen in jellyfish mucus provides the necessary fuel. This combination of mucus and bacteria could further enhance the ability of jellyfish to break down oil spills.

While the idea of using jellyfish to clean polluted water is intriguing, it is still in the early stages of research and experimentation. We need to understand more about jellyfish movement and mucus production in the wild to fully comprehend their potential impact on oil spills and water filtration. Nonetheless, the possibility of jellyfish helping to clean our oceans is an exciting prospect that warrants further exploration.

Jellyfish can be used as a stormwater treatment technology

The Jellyfish Filter has been tested in the field and in the laboratory and is approved by the Washington State Department of Ecology (TAPE) GULD – Basic, Phosphorus, and numerous other stormwater regulatory agencies. The system features a high surface area and a high flow rate membrane filtration at a low driving head. By incorporating pretreatment with lightweight membrane filtration, the Jellyfish Filter removes a high level and a wide variety of stormwater pollutants.

The filter cartridges are lightweight, easy to use, and reusable. Maintenance of the filter cartridges is performed by removing, rinsing, and reusing the cartridge tentacles. The system is designed to be low maintenance and can be engineered to treat a wide range of flows within a drainage system and capture pollutants prior to off-site discharge.

In addition to the Jellyfish Filter, there are other ways in which jellyfish can be used to clean polluted water. Jellyfish are natural filter feeders that can play an important role in removing excess nutrients and condensing biomass in water bodies. They produce mucus when stressed that can trap nanoparticles of metal and microplastics, which conventional water and industrial filters cannot trap. This has led to the development of the GoJelly project, which aims to create a microfiltration system for commercial and public use to tackle the problem of plastic pollution.

Jellyfish are natural microplastic filters

Jellyfish mucus can trap nanoparticles of metal, which are 15 nm wide (0.000015 mm). Conventional water and industrial filters cannot trap these nanoparticles, but jellyfish mucus can. The mucus is released when jellyfish are stressed, and it can also capture nano particles in the lab.

Jellyfish are filter feeders, which are aquatic animals that acquire nutrients by feeding on organic matter, food particles, or smaller organisms suspended in water. Filter feeders play an important role in removing excess nutrients from the waterbody, and are considered water-cleaning ecosystem engineers.

The movement of jellyfish bodies may also help disperse concentrated patches of oil and other sticky pollutants. Jellyfish mucus contains nutrients that oil-eating bacteria need to grow, and may boost oil digestion by bacteria.

The overabundance of jellyfish due to climate change and human intervention has caused significant dangers to humans and coastal communities. However, their rising numbers also make them an ally in tackling ocean microplastic pollution.

Jellyfish are filter-feeding cnidarians

The moon jellyfish, for example, has a grid of fibres that are slowly pulled through the water, allowing it to capture prey without alerting copepods, which are then drawn to the body by contracting the fibres in a corkscrew fashion. Other filter-feeding cnidarians include sea pens, sea fans, plumose anemones, and Xenia.

Jellyfish also produce mucus when stressed, which can trap nanoparticles of metal that are too small to be captured by conventional water and industrial filters. This mucus can also bind with microplastics, which has led to the development of the GoJelly project, which aims to create a microfiltration system for commercial and public use to tackle plastic pollution.

In addition to their role as filter feeders, jellyfish also serve as food for large fish and turtles, and their growing numbers due to climate change and human activities may provide new opportunities for culinary and pharmaceutical uses.

Frequently asked questions