TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Process: The BX3 is hydrogenated with an aldehyde selected from formaldehyde, benzaldehyde and/or acetaldehyde. The steps (D) and (E) are replaced with step of reacting YHBX3 with H2 to produce YBH4 and HX. The BX3 produced in step (B) is recycled for use in step (C) and (D). The H2 produced in step (A) is recycled for use in steps (B) and (D). The method further involves: reacting methane and water to produce H2 and carbon monoxide; combining the carbon monoxide produced in the previous step and in step (A); reacting the combined carbon monoxide with water to produce additional H2 and carbon dioxide; recycling the H2 for use in steps (B) and (D). The Y2O and BX3 are obtained by: either (1) reacting a borate of the formula YBO2 with HX to obtain YX, BX3, and water; (2) reacting the YX with water to obtain YOH and HX; and (3) converting the YOH to Y2O and H2O; or by (1a) reacting borate of formula YBO2 with CO2 and H2O to obtain YHCO3 and B2O3; (2a) converting YHCO3 to Y2O, CO2 and H2O; and (3a) reacting the B2O3 with HX to obtain BX3 and H2O, or (3aa) reacting B2O3 with C and X2 to obtain BX3 and CO2.The HX produced in steps (D) and (2) are recycled for use in step (1). Steps (2a) and (A) are substituted by steps (2b) converting YHCO3 and Y2CO3, water and CO2; and (A1) reacting the Y2CO3 with C to obtain 2Y and carbon monoxide. The CO2 produced in step (2a) is recycled for use in step (1a). The YBO2 produced is recycled for use in step (1).The step (3aa) is replaced with step of reacting B2O3 with methane and X2 to form BX3, CO2 and H2. Step (A) and (E) are replaced with step of reacting BX3 with H2 to obtain B2H6 and HX; and reacting B2H6 with Y2O to obtain YBH4 and YBO2.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The YBO2 is replaced with Y(BO2)2; YX is replaced with YX2; YOH is replaced with Y(OH)2; Y2O is replaced with YO; YH is replaced with YH2; YHBX3 is replaced with Y(HBX3)2; YHCO3 is replaced with Y(HCO3)2; and YBH4 is replaced with Y(BH4)2.The BX3 and YHCO3 are obtained by reacting a borate ore of formula Y2B2O4 with CO2 and H2O to obtain YHCO3 and B(OH)3; and reacting the B(OH)3 with HX to obtain BX3 and H2O. The B2O3 and YHCO3 are obtained by reacting borate ore of the formula Y2B2O4 with CO2 and water to obtain YHCO3 and B2O3.Preferred Method: The method further involves reacting HX with O2 and CuX (solid) to form X2 and water; and recycling X2 for use in step (3aa). Preferred Definitions:    Y = Na, Li or K; and    X = halo, OH, 1-4C alkoxide, O, S, Se, Te, Po, SR, SeR or TeR.