Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making a catalyst containing vanadium antimony and tin in the oxide state which comprises making an aqueous slurry of a mixture of source batch materials comprising compounds of the elements to be included in the final catalyst followed by drying and heat calcining the mixture to an active catalyst, using as the source batch material for tin a stannous salt of a C.sub.1 to C.sub.18 acyclic, monocarboxylic acid containing no ethylenic or acetylenic carbon-to-carbon unsaturation.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a cogel catalyst comprises preparing an aqueous solution containing a soluble compound of an alkali or alkaline earth metal, a soluble metal compound which is thermally decomposable to a metal oxide capable of converting methane to higher hydrocarbons and a hydrolysable silane under such conditions that a homogenous cogel is formed. The cogel catalyst is effective for oxidizing methane to higher hydrocarbons and exhibits greater selectivity and lasts longer than conventional prior art catalysts. A process for using the cogel catalyst to effect oxidation of methane is also described.