Iron-antimony-phosphorus-containing metal oxide catalyst for oxidation

A method for making an iron-antimony-phosphorus-containing metal oxide catalyst for catalytic oxidation, comprising a crystalline iron antimonate, said catalyst being represented by the following empirical formula:

• Fe.sub.a Sb.sub.b P.sub.c X.sub.d Q.sub.e R.sub.f O.sub.g (SiO.sub.2).sub.h
• wherein X represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of V, Mo and W;
• Q represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Th, U, Ti, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mn, Re, Co, Ni, Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, Pt, Cu, Ag, Au, Zn, Cd, Hg, Al, Ga, In, Tl, Ge, Sn and Pb;
• R represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of B, As, Bi, Se and Te;
• a, b, c, d, e, f, g and h each is an atomic ratio as follows:
• a=about 5 to 15
• b=about 5 to 100
• c=about 1 to 30
• d=about 0 to 10
• e=about 0 to 15
• f=about 0 to 10
• h=about 0 to 300
• g is a number of oxygen atom as determined corresponding to the oxides formed by combining the above-mentioned components;
• the atomic ratio of P/Fe is at least 0.3;
• the atomic ratio of P/Sb is at least 0.1;
• and the atomic ratio of P/X is at least 1 when d>0;
• comprising the steps of:
• (a) preparing a slurry comprising a crystalline iron antimonate, a phosphorus component and any component contained in said catalyst selected from the group consisting of X, Q, R and SiO.sub.2 ;
• (b) drying said slurry to provide dry material;
• and
• (c) calcining said dried material to provide said metal oxide catalyst.