Process for producing methyl chloride and sulfur dioxide

1. A process for producing methyl chloride and sulfur dioxide, which process comprises providing a reactor with lanthanum oxychloride, and contacting the lanthanum oxychloride with methanesulfonyl chloride under conditions sufficient to convert a portion of the methanesulfonyl chloride to methyl chloride and sulfur dioxide.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein a weight of the methanesulfonyl chloride fed to the reactor per a unit weight of the lanthanum oxychloride per hour is within a range of from 0.01 hours −1 to 100 hours −1 .

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein a weight of the methanesulfonyl chloride fed to the reactor per a unit weight of the lanthanum oxychloride per hour is within a range of from 0.2 hours −1 to 1.0 hours −1 .

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein the conditions include a reaction temperature within a range of from 25 degrees Celsius to 400 degrees Celsius.

5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the conditions include a reaction temperature within a range of from 250 degrees Celsius to 325 degrees Celsius.

6. The process of claim 1 , further comprising contacting the lanthanum oxychloride with a co-feed selected from the group of chlorine, hydrogen chloride, oxygen, or a combination thereof, wherein a molar ratio of methanesulfonyl chloride to the co-feed is within a range of from 1 to 100.

7. The process of claim 6 , wherein the co-feed is chlorine.

8. The process of claim 1 , further comprising pretreating the lanthanum oxychloride by heating the lanthanum oxychloride to a temperature within a range of from 250 degrees Celsius to 400 degrees Celsius.

9. The process of claim 8 , wherein the heating of the lanthanum oxychloride occurs in the presence of a promoter selected from the group of chlorine, hydrogen chloride, or a combination thereof to form a mixture of lanthanum oxychloride and lanthanum trichloride, wherein the mixture has a chlorine atom to lanthanum atom ratio that is not greater than 1.5:1.0.

10. The process of claim 1 , wherein the reactor is a continuous flow reactor.