Electrolytic process for preparing metal sulfonates

A method for preparing a metal salt of an alkane sulfonic acid by electrolysis wherein the metal is copper, nickel, zinc, lead, zinc or tin and wherein the method comprises:

• (A) providing a membraneless electrolytic cell having an upper section and a lower section, and comprising:
• (i) an anode comprising the metal positioned in the lower section of the electrolytic cell, and
• (ii) a cathode positioned in the upper section of the electrolytic cell,
• (B) charging to the cell, an aqueous solution of an alkyl sulfonic acid,
• (C) passing a current through the cell whereby the metal of the anode dissolves in the sulfonic acid and forms the desired metal salt,
• (D) accumulating the metal salt in a lower portion of the lower section of the cell, and
• (E) recovering an aqueous solution of the desired metal salt from the lower portion of the lower section of the cell.

A method for preparing tin methane sulfonate by electrolysis which comprises:

• (A) providing a membraneless electrolytic cell having an upper section and a lower section, and comprising:
• (i) a tin anode positioned in the lower section of the electrolytic cell, and
• (ii) a cathode positioned in the upper section of the electrolytic cell,
• (B) charging to the cell, an aqueous solution of methane sulfonic acid,
• (C) passing a direct current through the cell whereby the tin dissolves in the methane sulfonic acid and forms the desired tin methane sulfonate.
• (D) accumulating the tin methane sulfonate in a lower portion of the lower section of the cell, and
• (E) recovering an aqueous solution of tin methane sulfonate from the lower portion of the lower section of the cell.