Patent ID: 6916763

Claim:
A process for preparing an antimonate-based mixed metal oxide catalyst in a catalytically active oxidized state, said catalyst represented by the empirical formula: Me a Sb b X c Q d R e O f wherein Me is at least one element selected from Fe, Go, Ni, Sn, U, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ti, Th, Ce, Pr, Sm, or Nd; X is at least one element selected from V, Mo, or W; Q is at least one element selected from Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Sc, Y, La, Zr, Hf Nb, Ta, Re, Ru, Os, Rh, Ir, Pd, Pt, Ag, Au, Zn, Cd, Hg, Al, Ga, In, Tl, Ge, Pb, As, or Se; R is at least one element selected from Bi, B, P, or Te; and the subscripts a, b, c, d, e, and f denote atomic ratios and are as follows: a is 0.1 to 15, b is 1 to 100, c is 0 to 20, d is 0 to 20, e is 0 to 10, and f is a number taken to satisfy the valence requirements of the metals present in said catalyst in the oxidation states in which they exist in said catalyst, comprising: (a) contacting an aqueous Sb 2 O 3 slurry with HNO 3 and one or more Me compounds, and, optionally, one or more compounds selected from X, Q, or R compounds under controlled pH conditions to form a first mixture which is substantially free of silica sol; (b) heating and drying said first mixture to form a solid product; and (c) calcining said solid product to form said catalyst.