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AssigneeSouthwestern Analytical Chemicals, Inc.
InventorsCecil H. Hale, Alan R. Tanner, Bryan M. Hale
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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. The process of the present invention results in the formation of quaternary ammonium hydroxide solutions containing significantly reduced amounts of halogen (both ionic and latent), carbonates and/or metals, and the solutions also are characterized by improved color.
A process of improving the purity of quaternary ammonium hydroxides obtained by the electrolysis of the corresponding quaternary ammonium salt which comprises the steps of
A process for improving the purity of quaternary ammonium hydroxides prepared by electrolyzing a quaternary ammonium halide salt in an electrolysis cell containing a cation-exchange membrane which comprises the steps of
A process for reducing the halide content of quaternary ammonium hydroxides prepared by the electrolysis of quaternary ammonium halides which comprises the steps of
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.