NOx treated mixed metal oxide catalyst

Abstract

A catalyst comprising a mixed metal oxide is useful for the vapor phase oxidation of an alkane or a mixture of an alkane and an alkene to an unsaturated carboxylic acid and for the vapor phase ammoxidation of an alkane or a mixture of an alkane and an alkene to an unsaturated nitrile.

1 - 11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . An improved catalyst composition, comprising: 
 a mixed metal oxide having the empirical formula A a D b E c X d O e ,    wherein A is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mo and W, D is at least one element selected from the group consisting of V and Ce, E is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Te, Sb and Se, and X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Nb, Ta, Ti, Al, Zr, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ru, Co, Rh, Ni, Pt, Sb, Bi, B, In, As, Ge, Sn, Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Fr, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Hf, Ag, Pb, P, Pm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu; and a=1, b=0.01 to 1.0, c=0.01 to 1.0, d=0.01 to 1.0, and e is dependent on the oxidation state of said other elements;    wherein said catalyst composition has been treated to exhibit peaks at X-ray diffraction angles (2θ) of 22.1°, 27.1°, 28.2°, 36.2°, 45.2°, and 50.0°, with a relative increase in a diffraction peak at said diffraction angle (2θ) of 27.1 degrees when compared with an untreated catalyst of like empirical formula.