Selective oxidation of alkanes and/or alkenes to valuable oxygenates

A process for preparing a solid catalyst comprising a compound having the formula

• AaBbXxYyZzOo
• wherein A is at least one of the group of elements Mo, W and Zr, B is at least one of the group of elements Bi, Sb, Se and Te, X is at least one of the group of elements Al, Bi, Ca, Ce, Co, Fe, Ga, Mg, Ni, Sn, W and Zn, Y, if present, is one or more elements selected from the group of Ag, Au, B, Cr, Cs, Cu, K, La, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Nb, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, Re, Ru, Sn, Te, Ti, Zr, and Z, if present, is at least one element selected from said X or Y groups or from the following:
• As, Ba, Pd, Pt, Sr, or mixtures thereof, and wherein a=1, 0.05<b<1.5, 0.01<x<1, 0<y<0.5, 0<z<0.2 and o is dependent on the oxidation state of the other elements, said process comprising:
• a) forming a mixture by dry-mixing of the appropriate amounts of source materials containing selected ones of said elements to provide said elements in predetermined a, b, x, y and z ratios;
• and
• b) calcining said mixture at a temperature from 150° C. to 900° C. under an atmosphere containing oxygen or an inert gas or a mixture thereof, to yield said solid catalyst.

A process for preparing a solid catalyst comprising a compound having the formula

• AaBbXxYyZzOo
• wherein A is at least one of the group of elements Mo, W and Zr, B is at least one of the group of elements Bi, Sb, Se and Te, X is at least one of the group of elements Al, Bi, Ca, Ce, Co, Fe, Ga, Mg, Ni, Sn, W and Zn, Y, if present, is one or more elements selected from the group of Ag, Au, B, Cr, Cs, Cu, K, La, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Nb, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, Re, Ru, Sn, Te, Ti, Zr, and Z, if present, is at least one element selected from said X or Y groups or from the following:
• As, Ba, Pd, Pt, Sr, or mixtures thereof, and wherein a=1, 0.05<b<1.5, 0.01<x<1, 0<y<0.5, 0<z<0.2 and o is dependent on the oxidation state of the other elements, said process comprising:
• a) forming a mixture of the appropriate amounts of source materials containing selected ones of said elements to provide said elements in predetermined a, b, x, y and z ratios, and at least one liquid substance to form a solution or slurry containing the said source materials;
• b) removing part or all of the said liquid substance(s) from said mixture to obtain a solid catalyst precursor;
• and
• c) calcining said catalyst precursor at a temperature from 150° C. to 900° C. under an atmosphere containing oxygen or an inert gas or a mixture thereof, to yield said solid catalyst.