FILTER MEDIA INCLUDING FINE STAPLE FIBERS

Filter media comprising fine staple fibers and related components, systems, and methods associated therewith are provided. In some embodiments, a filter media may include a layer (e.g., a wet laid layer) comprising polymeric staple fibers having a relatively small average diameter (e.g., less than or equal to about 1 micron). The polymeric staple fiber layer may be designed to impart desirable properties to the filter media, such as a high particulate efficiency and/or fluid separation efficiency, while having relatively minimal or no adverse effects on one or more properties of the filter media that are important for a given application. The filter media, described herein, may be particularly well-suited for a variety of applications.