Concentrating aqueous solutions via hybridizing electrodialysis and other desalination techniques

A method for concentrating aqueous solutions, comprising:

• directing an aqueous solution through a desalination system that separates the aqueous solution into purified water and concentrated brine;
• directing the concentrated brine into an electrodialysis system comprising an anode and a cathode and at least two monovalent selective ion exchange membranes between the anode and the cathode, wherein at least one of the monovalent selective ion exchange membranes separates at least one diluate channel with a comparatively diluted ion concentration from at least one concentrate channel with a comparatively concentrated ion concentration in the electrodialysis system, wherein each monovalent selective ion exchange membrane selectively allows at least one monovalent ion to pass through the membrane while blocking or significantly inhibiting the transport of multi-valent ions through the membrane;
• flowing the concentrated brine through at least the at least one concentrate channel while applying a voltage to the anode and cathode;
• and
• flowing additional aqueous solution mixed with concentrated brine from the desalination system through the at least one diluate channel such that the proportion of aqueous solution in the flow into the at least one diluate channel is lower than 0.61 or greater than 0.81, and wherein the ratio of the flow through the at least one diluate channel to the flow through the at least one concentrate channel is in a range from 0.3 to 81.