Patent ID: 6914150

Claim:
A process for preparing an unsaturated carboxylic acid comprising subjecting an alkane, or a mixture of an alkane and an alkene, to vapor phase catalytic oxidation in the presence of a catalyst which comprises a mixed-metal oxide having the empirical formula Mo a V b E c X d O e wherein E is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Te and Sb, wherein X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Nb, Ta, Ti, Al, Zr, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ru, Co, Rh, Ni, Pd, Pt, Ag, B, In, Ce and W, and wherein, when 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 the other elements, and which is prepared by a process comprising: (a) admixing compounds of Mo, V, E and X and at least one solvent to form a gel; (b) aging said so-formed gel; and (c) calcining said gel.