Filter media may be bonded to a filter housing during filtration processes. However, bonding between the filter media and filter housing sufficient to prevent delamination during filtration processes may be challenging as some filter media may be challenging to adhere sufficiently well to the filter housing. Furthermore, for use in consumer water applications, it may be desirable for filter media may undergo sterilization processes (e.g., using an autoclave) that expose the filter media to relatively high temperatures and pressures, which may decrease the adhesion strength between the filter media and the filter housing. Accordingly, there is a need for strategies for bonding filter media to filter housings that do not compromise the performance of the filter media and/or that can undergo sterilization processes without unacceptably compromising the structural integrity of the bond between the filter media and the filter housing.

A filter medium is provided comprising a carrier layer; a melt-blown layer; and a spunbond layer. The melt-blown layer is disposed between the carrier layer and the spunbond layer. The spunbond layer comprises bicomponent fibers. The spunbond layer may have a basis weight of from about 10 g/m2 to about 40 g/m2 and may have a thickness of at least about 250 m. Also described herein is a method of producing the filter medium and filters and apparatus comprising the filter medium. The inclusion of a low density bicomponent spunbond layer as a pre-filter layer in the filter medium provides a lower basis weight filter medium with a comparable or improved filtration efficiency to a filter medium comprising a carded nonwoven pre-filter layer, while reducing the amount of materials used.

A filter assembly comprises a filter housing defining an internal volume having an inner cross-section defining an inner cross-sectional distance, the filter housing having a base and a sidewall. A filter element is disposed within the internal volume. The filter element comprises a filter media pack at least a portion of which has an outer cross-section defining an outer cross-sectional distance that is substantially equal to the inner cross-sectional distance of the internal volume of the filter housing. A support structure is coupled to at least one longitudinal end of the filter media pack.