ED was used to separate magnesium and lithium in brine with high Mg2+/Li+ ratio.
The ED system could reduce the Mg2+/Li+ ratio and concentrate lithium in the brine.
The highest ESEC was 0.27 kWh/mol when the applied voltage was 6 V.
The Mg2+/Li+ ratio of artificial brine could be decreased from 60 to 7 within 2 h.