Disclosed is a filter element from removing contaminants from water comprised of first filter media particles having a first particle size and second media particles having a second particle size and methods for making such a filter element. The first media particles are adhered to surfaces of the second media particles. A binder connects the second media particles with one another so that interstitial spaces are formed between second media particles. A portion of the smaller first filter media particles are positioned within the interstitial spaces. According to one embodiment of the disclosure water flows through the filter element at a flux greater than about 1.5 ml/min/cm.sup.2 has a pressure drop less than 20 psi.

Link via USPTO:

http://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PG01&s1=%22LOMBARDO+Andrew%22.IN.&OS=IN/%22LOMBARDO+Andrew%22&RS=IN/%22LOMBARDO+Andrew%22

Google Patents PDF:

https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/1d/39/82/9c70ced5cbdf81/US20210171359A1.pdf