Catalyst for ethane ODH

A process for preparing an oxidative dehydrogenation catalyst comprising a mixed metal oxide having the empirical formula

• MoaVbTecNbdPdeOf
• wherein
• a, b, c, d, e and f are the relative atomic amounts of the elements Mo, V, Te, Nb, Pd, and O, respectively;
• and
• a is 1, b is from 0.01 to 1.0, c is from 0.01 to 1.0, d is from 0.01 to 0.1.0, e is from 0.0001 to less than 0.10, and f is dependent on the oxidation state of the other elements;
• the process comprising:
• admixing compounds of elements Mo, V, Te, and Nb, in a solvent comprising water to produce a first mixture;
• heating the first mixture in a first pressurized vessel at a temperature of from 100° C. to 200° C.;
• recovering a first insoluble material from the first pressurized vessel;
• subjecting the first recovered insoluble material to a calcining at a temperature of from 500° C. to 700° C. under an inert atmosphere to produce a calcined product;
• contacting the calcined product with an aqueous solution comprising a Pd compound to form second mixture, wherein the aqueous solution comprising the Pd compound is prepared from a Pd compound chosen from [Pd(NH3)4](NO3)2, Pd(HCO3)2, Pd(CH3COO)2 an analogous Pd containing salt, or a combination thereof;
• subjecting the second mixture to drying to provide a dried product;
• and
• recovering a second insoluble material from the dried product to provide the catalyst, and wherein the process excludes calcination after the impregnation of Pd.