Abstract: The aliphatic carboxylic acids, e.g., acetic acid, are selectively prepared, even on an industrial scale, by controlledly oxidizing the corresponding alkanes, e.g., ethane, with a source of oxygen, in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of an advantageously supported heteropolyacid catalyst having the formula (I):[A.sub.a B.sub.b ].sub.f [C.sub.c D.sub.d E.sub.e O.sub.x ].sup.f-(I)in which A is at least one monovalent cation selected from among hydrogen, an alkali metal, or the ammonium ion; B is VO.sup.2 +, VO.sup.3 +, an alkaline earth metal ion, or an ion of a metal of Groups VII A, VIII, I B, IV B and V B of the Periodic Table; C is Mo and/or W; D is phosphorus, arsenic, antimony, silicon, germanium and/or boron; E is vanadium, optionally in combination with at least one metal of Groups V A, VII A and VIII of the Periodic Table or chromium; f=a+.alpha.b wherein .alpha.

Abstract: The saturated hydrocarbons, typically alkanes having from 3 to 12 carbon atoms, e.g., propane, are selectively ammoxidized into .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated nitriles and olefins, e.g., acrylonitrile and propylene, by reacting such alkanes with ammonia and oxygen, in vapor phase and in the presence of a solid catalyst, such solid catalyst including a catalytically effective amount of an active catalytic phase which comprises molybdenum, oxygen and at least one element selected from among the alkaline earth metals, Mn, Fe, U, La, Co, Ni, Zn, Ag, Cd, W, Zr, Pb, Te, Ga, Al, B, Nb and Ta.

Abstract: The alkanes, e.g., propane, are selectively converted (ammoxidized) into admixtures comprising .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated nitriles, e.g., acrylonitrile, by reacting same with ammonia and oxygen, in vapor phase, and in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a solid catalyst, the catalytically active phase of which comprising (1) molybdenum, vanadium and oxygen and (2) at least one of the elements, manganese, zinc, cobalt, copper, lithium, sodium, potassium and silver.