Abstract: An electrodialysis cell is operated in the presence of organic compounds that bind or chelate with the multivalent metals to form metal-chelate buffers. Among other things, this binding or chelating reduces power consumption, produces a stable cell operation, and avoids a fouling of the membranes while significantly improving membrane life, reliability, and operating costs. When a chelating agent is added to a salt solution containing multivalent cations, the chelating agent strongly binds with the cations, forming large size complexes. An ion exchange membrane retains these complexes within the compartment of the electrodialysis cell containing the feed solution. The multivalent cations is greatly inhibited from being transported across the cation exchange membrane, thus reducing the fouling of the cation membranes. Concurrently, the precipitation of the metals in the base loop is substantially abated.