Exemplary synthetic polymers that may be applied to filter materials include, but are not limited to, carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, cellulose esters such as cellulose acetate, cellulose butyrate and cellulose acetate propionate (for example, from Eastman Chemical Corp. of Kingsport, Tenn.), polyethylene glycols, water dispersible amorphous polyesters with aromatic dicarboxylic ac