Cr/V/Sb mixed oxide catalysts for the ammoxidation of propane to acrylonitrile: Part I: Nature of the V species

Rutile-type Cr/V/Sb mixed oxides, catalysts for the ammoxidation of propane to acrylonitrile, were prepared and characterized. For atomic ratios between components equal to Cr/V/Sb 1/ x/1 and 1/ x/2 the systems were monophasic, but different types of compounds formed depending on the ratio between the three metals. The compositional parameter which most affected the nature of the compound formed was the (Cr+V)/Sb atomic ratio. When this ratio was between 2 and ≈1, a rutile Cr 3+/V 4+/Sb 5+ mixed oxide of composition Cr 1V x Sb 1O 4+2 x developed (0< x