Catalyst for the production of nitriles

A process for producing a catalyst, which comprises adding a compound of at least one element selected from the group consisting of antimony, bismuth, cerium, boron, manganese, chromium, gallium, germanium, yttrium and lead to a complex oxide which is represented by the empirical formula:

• Mo.sub.a V.sub.b Te.sub.c X.sub.x O.sub.n ( 1)
• wherein X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Nb, Ta, W, Ti, Al, Zr, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ru, Co, Rh, Ni, Pd, Pt, Sb, Bi, B and Ce,
• when a=1,
• b=0.01 to 1.0,
• c=0.01 to 1.0,
• x=0.01 to 1.0,
• and n is a number such that the total valency of the metal elements is satisfied, and which has X-ray diffraction peaks at the following angles of 2.theta. in its X-ray diffraction pattern:
• Diffraction
• angles of 2.theta. (.degree.)
• 22.1.+-.0.3
• 28.2.+-.0.3
• 36.2.+-.0.3
• 45.2.+-.0.3
• 50.0.+-.0.3,
• to obtain a mixture, and calcining the mixture.

A process for producing a catalyst for the production of a nitrile from an alkane, which satisfies the following conditions 1) and 2):

• 1) the catalyst is represented by the empirical formula:
• Mo.sub.a V.sub.b Te.sub.c X.sub.x O.sub.n ( 1)
• wherein X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Nb, Ta, W, Ti, Al, Zr, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ru, Co, Rh, Ni, Pd, Pt, Sb, Bi, B and Ce,
• when a=1,
• b=0.01 to 1.0,
• c=0.01 to 1.0,
• x=0.01 to 1.0,
• and n is a number such that the total valency of the metal elements is satisfied;
• and
• 2) the catalyst has X-ray diffraction peaks at the following angles of 2.theta. in its X-ray diffraction pattern:
• Diffraction
• angles of 2.theta. (.degree.)
• 22.1.+-.0.3
• 28.2.+-.0.3
• 36.2.+-.0.3
• 45.2.+-.0.3
• 50.0.+-.0.3
• which process comprises:
• a) drying an aqueous solution containing compounds of molybdenum, vanadium and tellurium and a compound of at least one element selected from the group consisting of niobium, tantalum, tungsten, titanium, aluminum, zirconium, chromium, manganese, iron, ruthenium, cobalt, rhodium, nickel, palladium, platinum, antimony, bismuth, boron and cerium, and
• b) calcining the dried product in the absence of oxygen to obtain a complex oxide.