Abstract: Membrane filtration assembly where the fluid to be filtered is recirculated on the retentate side of a membrane filter and where the filtered fluid, i.e. the permeate, is recirculated on the permeate side of the membrane filter in such a manner that the two streams are cocurrently passed along the membrane filter. The membrane filter comprises several membrane units in form of tubular supporting structures, each supporting structure comprising one or more filter membranes. The membrane units are mounted in parallel inside a common housing in such a manner that one stream flows inside the membrane units while the other stream flows in a space surrounding said membrane units. Each membrane unit is provided with a separate space designed as a narrow passageway on the inner side defined by the membrane unit and on the outer side defined by a channel tube, the inner cross section of which is 4 to 200% larger than the outer cross section of the membrane unit.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for the production of cheese on the basis of milk or milk products where after pasteurizing and partially cooling the material, said material is subjected to membrane filtration, further cooling, dosing of rennet and starter and optionally other additives, mixing and casting followed by after-treatment and curing, whereby the membrane filtration is carried out to obtain a retentate with a dry matter content of x % by weight, wherein x is between 38+1/3 (y-20) and 44+1/3 (y-20) and wherein y is the fat content in % by weight calculated in relation to the dry matter content, whereby the retentate is subjected to heat treatment, whereupon the material is cooled to a temperature not higher than 40.degree. C. before dosing the rennet and the starter and whereby the viscosity of the material is kept below 60,000 cP when starting the dosing. By the process an interesting new type of cheese having a high quality and being reasonably priced is obtained.