HUMPBAC: The First Real-Time Sensor for Microplastics
Changing the way microplastics are measured, for a future of cleaner water.
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What is HUMPBAC?
The Hyperspectral Ultrasonic MicroPlastic Bulk Acoustic Characterization (HUMPBAC) Sensor is the first real-time, flow-through sensor for microplastics, providing scientists, nonprofits, and water utilities with a faster, easier, and cheaper way to monitor microplastic pollution.
Key Benefits:
Flow through measurement ease
Current methods require water to be filtered and then each microplastic particle to be counted individually. HUMPBAC is designed for speed and ease, allowing particles to stay suspended in liquid and counted in bulk.
Significant Time Savings
By measuring with sound instead of light, HUMPBAC cuts measurement times from hours/days to minutes. Using ultrasonic frequencies, this sensor interacts with the unique refractive properties of plastics vs other particles in the water.
Increased Sensitivity
Where other methods can only measure particles down to 20 micrometers, HUMPBAC can measure down to 5 µm.
Incredible Cost Savings
Current methods (i.e., FTIR and Raman) can cost $100k-500k per machine and $1000-3000 per sample. HUMPBAC will reduce that cost by approximately 90%.
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Current Methods for Measuring Microplastics are Prohibitively Expensive and Time-Consuming
Standard sampling methods, such as FTIR and Raman spectroscopy and epifluorescence microscopy, require the same time-intensive steps:
- Slowly filtering water
- Examining that filter under a microscope for microplastics
- Identifying each microplastic piece individually, particle by particle
This process can take hours or days per sample and lead to huge backlogs of data. There has been no way to get a bulk abundance measurement of microplastics in a sample – until now.
How HUMPBAC Changes the Game
We measure microplastics with sound, quickly and accurately.
- Flow-Through Ease: Ultrasound allows us to measure microplastics while they are still suspended in water
- Real-Time Data: Patent-pending design takes sampling time from hours/days to minutes
- Increased Sampling Range: Ultrasound can detect particles up to 75% smaller than leading competitor
- Interoperable: Easy to plug into and interact with other water-monitoring lab equipment
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Applications
Real-World Uses for HUMPBAC
Drinking Water Monitoring
Our beachhead market, testing drinking water for contamination.
Catchment to Outfall
Tracking real-time changes in stormwater,
wastewater, or desalination plants
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Oceanographic Research
Allowing researchers and NGOs to track pollution faster, easier, and cheaper.
Human Health Impacts
Testing for microplastic contamination in the human body, an active area of research.
Food and Ag
Testing bottled water, irrigation, and soil as pathways for human consumption.
HUMPBAC Promo Video
Watch this short video highlighting HUMPBAC’s capabilities.
Media and Outreach
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Recognition & Presentations
Accomplishments:
- Jennifer Brandon, Walking Softer Young Leader Award, Fall 2025
- Ocean Exchange Semifinalists, 2025
Conference Talks:
- Brandon, Jennifer. “A Novel Analytical Technique: an ultrasonic benchtop sensor for near real-time microplastic identification and characterization.” 2026 Ocean Sciences Meeting
- Argo, Ted. “Ultrasonic microplastics detector.” 2025 Acoustic Society of America Meeting
- Murray, James. “An ultrasonic benchtop sensor for near real-time microplastic identification and characterization.” 2025 ASLO Aquatic Sciences Meeting
- Bhatt, Eeshan. "An ultrasonic benchtop sensor for near real-time microplastic detection and quantification.” 2023 Mid-Atlantic Marine Debris Summit
Funders and Partners
Funding breakdown: 71% Navy; 24% Government Agencies;
3% NGOs; 2% Private Industry
Interested in beta testing HUMPBAC?
We'd love to hear from you.
