A filter and filter media configured and arranged for placement in a fuel stream is disclosed. The filter and filter media allow for filtering of liquid fuels, such as diesel fuel. In certain embodiments the filter media includes a media fiber (such as glass) and a binder fiber (such as bicomponent) that combine to create a media structure having low solidity and relatively low compressibility, and which contain a pore structure that avoids premature fouling of the filter by fuel degradation products.

Filter media comprising non-woven fiber webs having one or more advantageous physical properties are generally described. In some embodiments, a filter media and/or non-woven fiber web described herein comprises a combination of fibers that results in enhanced physical properties. For example, the non-woven fiber web may comprise a combination of fiber types that is advantageous, such as a combination comprising fibrillated fibers, glass fibers, and/or binder fibers. In some cases, the filter media and/or non-woven fiber web comprising the combination of fibers may be formed into undulations (e.g., by a creping and/or microcreping process) to further enhance the physical properties of the filter media and/or non-woven fiber.

This disclosure describes a filtration medium that is preferably glass-free or substantially glass-free. In some embodiments, the filtration medium preferably exhibits capacity and efficiency comparable to or better than similar glass-containing filtration media. The filtration medium includes bicomponent fibers, efficiency fibers (for example, PET fibers), and microfibrillated fibers. The efficiency fibers include fibers having a fiber diameter in a range of 1 micron to 5 microns and fibers having a fiber diameter of at least 0.1 micron and less than 1 micron.