Patent ID: 8551443

Claim:
A method of forming a catalyst for oxidative dehydrogenation of organic compounds comprising: forming a reaction solution by simultaneously adding to an aqueous liquid separate streams of (1) and (2), wherein (1) is a base and (2) is catalyst precursor components comprised of Fe +3 and Zn +2 cations in solution and at least one other modifier element cation in solution that has a standard reduction potential of from greater than about −2.87 E° (V) to less than about −0.036 E° (V) with a valence of +2, and wherein (1) and (2) are simultaneously combined in amounts to maintain the pH of the reaction solution at a pH of from 8.5 to 9.5; allowing the catalyst precursor components to react and precipitate out of solution; and calcining the precipitate to form a modified zinc ferrite catalyst compound.