Patent ID: 7332625

Claim:
Process for the production of acrylic acid from propane, wherein a gaseous mixture comprising propane, water vapor, and optionally an inert gas, either in the absence of oxygen, or in the presence of molecular oxygen, wherein when operating in the presence of molecular oxygen the molar ratio propane/molecular oxygen in the initial gaseous mixture is greater than or equal to 0.5; is passed over a catalyst of formula (I): Mo 1 V a Sb b Nb c Si d O x (I) in which: a is between 0.006 and 1, inclusive; b is between 0.006 and 1, inclusive; c is between 0.006 and 1, inclusive; d is between 0 and 3.5, inclusive; and x is the quantity of oxygen bound to the other elements and depends on their oxidation state, in order to oxidize the propane to acrylic acid.