Abstract: A process for the manufacture of an improved iron promoted vanadium antimony oxide catalyst useful in the ammoxidation of propane to acrylonitrile wherein the source of iron (i.e. an iron containing compound such as Fe2O3) employed in the catalyst preparation has a BET surface area greater than 120 m2/gram. Such catalysts are useful in processes for the ammoxidation of a C3-C5 paraffinic hydrocarbon to its corresponding ?-?-unsaturated nitrile, the ammoxidation of propylene with NH3 and oxygen to acrylonitrile, the ammoxidation of methylpyridine with NH3 and oxygen to make cyanopyridine, the ammoxidation of m-xylene with NH3 and oxygen to make isophthalonitrile, and the oxidation of o-xylene to make phthalic anhydride.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of an improved iron promoted vanadium antimony oxide catalyst useful in the ammoxidation of propane to acrylonitrile wherein the source of iron (i.e. an iron containing compound such as Fe2O3) employed in the catalyst preparation has a BET surface area greater than 120 m2/gram. Such catalysts are useful in processes for the ammoxidation of a C3-C5 paraffinic hydrocarbon to its corresponding &agr;-&bgr;-unsaturated nitrile, the ammoxidation of propylene with NH3 and oxygen to acrylonitrile, the ammoxidation of methylpyridine with NH3 and oxygen to make cyanopyridine, the ammoxidation of m-xylene with NH3 and oxygen to make isophthalonitrile, and the oxidation of o-xylene to make phthalic anhydride.