Patent ID: 7282603

Claim:
A method for converting methane into methanesulfonic acid comprising the steps of: a. removing hydrogen atoms from methane, thereby generating methyl radicals, each having an unpaired electron; b. contacting the methyl radicals with sulfur trioxide, under conditions that enable the methyl radicals to react with the sulfur trioxide to form methylated oxide radicals having sufficient reactivity to remove hydrogen atoms from methane; and, c. reacting the methylated oxide radicals with methane, under conditions that enable the methylated oxide radicals to remove hydrogen atoms from the methane, thereby forming methanesulfonic acid and additional methyl radicals, wherein steps (b) and (c) are carried out under essentially anhydrous conditions, using methanesulfonic acid as a solvent, and wherein the method uses at least one radical-initiator compound that does not contain any metallic or mineral ion or salt.