Radical initiators and chain extenders for converting methane gas into methane-sulfonic acid

A chemical mixture suited and intended for sustaining and extending a radical chain reaction which converts methane into methane-sulfonic acid, wherein said mixture contains a quantity of methyl-sulfonyl-peroxy-acid (also referred to as methyl-Caro's acid), having the formula H3CS(O2)O—OH, at a concentration which will substantially suppress sulfur dioxide accumulation inside a reactor vessel being used to perform said radical chain reaction.

Methyl-sulfonyl-peroxy-acid (also called methyl-Caro's acid), having the formula H3CS(O2)O—OH.

Methyl-sulfonyl-peroxo-sulfuric acid (also called methyl-Marshall's acid, or mono-methyl-Marshall's acid), having the formula H3CS(O2)O—OS(O2)OH.

A method for performing a radical chain reaction, comprising the step of introducing, into a reactor vessel, a mixture comprising:

• (i) at least one primary initiator compound having a peroxide bond which can be broken to release radical species capable of efficiently removing hydrogen atoms from at least one type of hydrocarbon or carbohydrate reagent, wherein said primary initiator compound is selected from the group consisting of Marshall's acid (also called peroxy-di-sulfuric-acid), methyl-Marshall's acid (also called methyl-sulfonyl-peroxo-sulfuric acid), and dimethyl-Marshall's acid (also called dimethyl-sulfonyl-peroxide, DMSP), and combinations thereof;
• and,
• (ii) at least one second initiator compound having a peroxide bond which, when broken apart, will release at least one radical species that will oxidize sulfur dioxide molecules into sulfur trioxide molecules.

A method for creating a mixture of sulfur-containing peroxides which can initiate a radical chain reaction, comprising the step of subjecting to electrolysis a combination of sulfuric acid and methane-sulfonic acid, under temperature and voltage conditions which create each and all of Marshall's acid (also called peroxy-di-sulfuric-acid), methyl-Marshall's acid (also called methyl-sulfonyl-peroxo-sulfuric acid), and dimethyl-Marshall's acid (also called dimethyl-sulfonyl-peroxide) in an output stream.

A method for converting methane into methane-sulfonic acid via a radical chain reaction, said method utilizing ozone to convert a reagent into a sulfur-containing peroxide compound which can be broken apart under controlled conditions to release radicals which can efficiently remove hydrogen atoms from methane molecules, thereby creating methyl radicals.

A reactor assembly for converting methane into methane-sulfonic acid via a radical chain reaction, said reactor assembly comprising a tube enclosure which contains at least one inert baffle-type mixing device inside said tube enclosure, wherein said tube enclosure can be used to process a gas/liquid mixture which flows through said tube enclosure at pressures of at least 500 pounds/square inch, under conditions which do not allow substantial quantities of any chain-terminating species to travel through the tube enclosure in a backflow direction.