A process for treating brine comprises mixing concentrated brine containing silica with a silica-precipitating agent and producing a fluid comprising a first concentrated brine and precipitates of silica, passing the fluid through a first filter device comprising a membrane such that silica precipitates are retained by the membrane and silica precipitate- depleted fluid passes through the membrane and through a second filter device comprising an inlet, a first outlet and a second outlet, a first fluid flow path defined between the inlet and first outlet, and a second fluid flow path defined between the inlet and the second outlet, and a reverse osmosis membrane across the first fluid flow path. Silica precipitate-depleted fluid passes along the membrane such that permeate passes along the fluid flow path through the membrane and through the first outlet, and a second concentrated brine passes along the membrane and through the second outlet.
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