Patent ID: 7371883

Claim:
A process for single-step catalytic vapor phase (amm)oxidation of one or more C 2 -C 8 alkanes to produce one or more (amm)oxidation products selected from the group consisting of unsaturated carboxylic acids and unsaturated nitriles, wherein one or more reaction zones are provided, each of which comprises at least one catalyst capable of catalyzing the single-step vapor phase (amm)oxidation reaction, said process comprising the steps of: (a) feeding the one or more C 2 -C 8 alkanes to at least one of the one or more reaction zones; and (b) feeding carbon dioxide, in an amount of from 5 volume % to 60 volume %, based upon the total volume of starting materials that are fed to said process, to at least one of the one or more reaction zones simultaneously with the feeding of the one or more C 2 -C 8 alkanes, wherein the at least one catalyst comprises a mixed metal oxide having the empirical formula: J j M m N n Y y Z z O o wherein J is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mo and W, M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of V and Ce, N is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Te, Sb and Se, Y 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, Ra, Hf, Pb, P, Pm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu, and Z is selected from the group consisting of Ni, Pd, Cu, Ag and Au; and wherein, when j=1, m=0.01 to 1.0, n=0.01 to 1.0, y=0.01 to 1.0, z=0.001 to 0.1 and o is dependent on the oxidation state of the other elements; and wherein said catalyst composition has been treated to exhibit peaks at X-ray diffraction angles (2θ) of 22.1°, 28.2°, 36.2°, 45.2°, and 50.0°.