NOVELTY - Converting gaseous alkanes to higher molecular weight hydrocarbons comprises: (a) separating hydrobromic acid from a gaseous stream comprising hydrobromic acid and hydrocarbons; (b) converting the hydrobromic acid to at least bromine; and (c) contacting the bromine with gaseous alkanes to form bromination products comprising alkyl bromides.    USE - The process is useful for converting gaseous alkanes to higher molecular weight hydrocarbons (claimed), which are useful as fuels or monomers and intermediaries in the production of fuels or chemicals (e.g. lubricant and fuel additives).    ADVANTAGE - The process: allows bromine to be easily recycled; is less expensive than conventional process, since it operates at low pressures and relatively low temperature, and thus permits the use of less expensive equipment of relatively simple design; eliminates the formation of unwanted carbon dioxide thus increasing the selectivity of alkane bromination to alkyl bromides and eliminates the large amount of waste heat generated in the formation of carbon dioxide from alkanes; is capable of directly producing a mixed hydrocarbon product containing various molecular-weight components in the liquefied petroleum gas, olefin and motor gasoline fuels range that have substantial aromatic content and thus significantly increasing the octane value of the gasoline-range fuel components.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for converting gaseous alkanes to higher molecular weight hydrocarbons, comprising: contacting the gaseous stream comprising hydrobromic acid and hydrocarbons with aqueous solution comprising a base including a metal hydroxide and/or a metal oxy-bromide species such that the hydrobromic acid is neutralized to form the metal bromide salt in the aqueous solution; oxidizing the aqueous solution containing the metal bromide salt to form oxidation products comprising bromine and the base; separating the bromine from the aqueous solution comprising the base; and contacting the bromine with gaseous alkanes to form alkyl bromides.