A catalyst composition for the selective conversion of an alkane to an unsaturated
carboxylic acid having the general formula:
wherein optional element M may be one or more selected from aluminum, copper,
lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, gallium, phosphorus, iron, rhenium,
cobalt, chromium, manganese, arsenic, indium, thallium, bismuth, germanium, tin,
cerium or lanthanum; a is 0.05 to 0.99, b is 0.01 to 0.99, c is 0.01 to 0.99, d
is 0 to 0.5 and x is determined by the valence requirements of the other components
of the catalyst composition. This catalyst is prepared by co-precipitation of compounds
of molybdenum, vanadium, niobium, silver and M to form a mixed metal oxide catalyst.
This catalyst can be used for the selective conversion of an alkane to an unsaturated
carboxylic acid in a one-step process or the ammoxidation of alkanes and olefins.
