Toagosei Company, Ltd.

Yuuichi Sumida

Mamoru Takahashi

Xinlin Tu

Hiroshi Niizuma

The present invention relates to a process for producing a metal oxide catalyst which is suitable for production of acrylic acid or acrylonitrile in one stage by a catalytic oxidation reaction of propane in a high yield. The present invention is characterized by using a fine particle of metallic tellurium obtained by reducing a Te compound with a reductant as a raw material for producing an oxide catalyst including metal elements Mo&#x2014;V&#x2014;Nb&#x2014;Te. The fine particle of metallic tellurium is preferably one containing primary particles having a particle size of not more than 4.0 &#x3bc;m. By using a metal oxide obtained by the process of the present invention, acrylic acid can be produced from propane by a one-stage oxidation reaction in a higher yield not less than 40%.

Process for producing metal oxide catalyst

The invention relates to a process for producing a metal oxide catalyst capable of producing acrylic acid, acrylonitrile or the like in one stage by catalytic oxidation reaction of propane in a high yield. The invention is characterized by using one obtained by finely ground metallic Te or metallic Sb in water or an organic solvent as a raw material for the production of an oxide catalyst made of metal elements Mo&#x2014;V&#x2014;Nb&#x2014;Te or metal elements Mo&#x2014;V&#x2014;Nb&#x2014;Sb. The powder of the metallic Te or metallic Sb obtained by grinding preferably has a mode size of not more than 20 &#x3bc;m. By using the metal oxide obtained by the invention as a catalyst, it is possible to produce acrylic acid in a high yield of 35% or more from propane by a one-stage oxidation reaction.

Growing community of inventors

Nagoya, Japan

Yuuichi Sumida