Method of making mixed metal oxide catalysts for ammoxidation and/or oxidation of lower alkane hydrocarbons

A method for making a solid precursor to a mixed oxide catalyst for use in producing acrylonitrile or methacrylonitrile from propane or isobutane by ammoxidation in a gaseous phase said catalyst comprising the elements molybdenum (Mo), vanadium (V), antimony (Sb), niobium (Nb), oxygen (O), said method comprising making a reaction mixture comprising a molybdenum compound, a vanadium compound, an antimony compound, and hydrogen peroxide, wherein said reaction mixture is prepared by contacting any one of the antimony compound, the molybdenum compound, and the vanadium compound with hydrogen peroxide prior to mixing with source compounds for the remaining elements contained in the mixed oxide catalyst wherein amount of hydrogen peroxide used is such that molar ratio of hydrogen peroxide to antimony in the catalyst is in the range of 0.01 to 20;

• and further comprising drying the resulting mixture to form the solid precursor.