Abstract: A process is described for preparing metal borohydrides and onion borohydrides in an electrolysis cell which comprises an anolyte compartment containing an anode and a catholyte compartment containing a cathode, the anolyte and catholyte compartments being separated from each other by a cation exchange membrane which is effective at a pH below 7, said process comprising(A) charging an anolyte comprising an aqueous solution of at least one acid to the anolyte compartment;(B) charging a catholyte comprising an aqueous solutiuon prepared from a metal boron oxide or an organic onium boron oxide to the catholyte compartment;(C) passing a current through the electrolysis cell to produce the metal borohydride or an organic inium borohydride in the catholyte compartment; and(D) removing at least a portion of the catholyte from the catholyte compartment.

Abstract: A process is described for improving the purity of quaternary ammonium hydroxides. In one embodiment, the process of the present invention comprises the steps of(a) charging an aqueous solution containing the quaternary ammonium hydroxide to the anolyte compartment of an electrolysis cell which comprises an anolyte compartment and a catholyte compartment containing water separated from each other by a cation-exchange membrane,(b) passing a direct current through the electrolysis cell to produce a high purity quaternary ammonium hydroxide in the catholyte compartment, and(c) recovering the high purity quaternary ammonium hydroxide from the catholyte compartment.In a preferred embodiment, the aqueous solution containing the quaternary ammonium hydroxide charged to the anolyte compartment is heated to an elevated temperature for a given period of time prior to subjecting the quaternary ammonium hydroxide to the electrolytic process of the present invention.