The present invention describes a hybrid device (1) for a recirculation shower, allowing purification and either recycling of water or discarding of water, wherein said hybrid device (1) comprises a recirculation loop (2), a filter system (4) with a nano-filter (5) such as for instance an electropositive nano-ceramic filter, e.g. a nano alumina (fiber) filter, at least one filter quality sensor (3), at least one pre-filter (6), and wherein the hybrid device (1) is arranged to redirect the water from recirculation to drainage when the at least one filter quality sensor (3) indicates the need thereof.

A holding material includes a stack of a first mat and a second mat, the first mat including alumina fibers that include 60 wt % or more of alumina and 40 wt % or less of silica, and the second mat including silica fibers that include 60 wt % or more of silica and 40 wt % or less of alumina and having a surface pressure higher than that of the first mat as measured at a gap bulk density of 0.30 g/cm.sup.3.

A device for filtering and separating pressurized liquid mixtures by means of a membrane includes a substantially pressure-tight container in which the membranes are accommodated in a pressure-tight manner. The container has at least one intake for the mixture, as well as at least one outlet for the permeate separated from the mixture by means of the membranes, and at least one outlet for the retentate, also referred to as a concentrate. The pressure-tight container is made of plastic.

Filter media, filters and methods for making the same are provided herein. A filter media comprises a fibrous layer having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion and second portions being disposed next to each other along a thickness direction of the layer. The fibers from the first portion are intermeshed with the fibers from the second portion. A weight ratio of the fibers in the first portion to the fibers in the second portion is greater than 1:1. In certain embodiments, the fibrous layer comprise synthetic fibers, and two different types of cellulosic fiber. The synthetic fibers constitute less than 20 wt % of the fibers in the fibrous layer, and the second portion comprises more synthetic fibers, in terms of mass per unit area, than the first portion.

A composite fiber having a core sheath-structure that includes a core portion having an electrically conductive material, and a sheath portion having a ceramic component covering the core portion. The composite fiber is constructed such that, when the core portion is connected to a ground, the sheath portion exhibits one of a positive surface potential or a negative surface potential over an entire surface of the sheath portion.