Pre calcination additives for mixed metal oxide ammoxidation catalysts

1. A process for preparation of a catalyst, said catalyst comprising a complex of metal oxides wherein relative ratios of elements in said catalyst are represented by the following formula:

Mo 12 Bi a Fe b A c D d E e F f G g Ce h O x

wherein A is at least one element selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, rubidium and cesium;

D is at least one element selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, manganese, zinc, magnesium, calcium, strontium, cadmium and barium;

E is at least one element selected from the group consisting of chromium, tungsten, boron, aluminum, gallium, indium, phosphorus, arsenic, and vanadium;

F is at least one element selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, praseodymium, neodymium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, scandium, yttrium, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, niobium, tantalum, aluminum, gallium, indium, thallium, silicon, germanium, and lead;

G is at least one element selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, platinum and mercury; and

a is from 0.05 to 7,

b is from 0.1 to 7,

c is from 0.01 to 5,

d is from 0.1 to 12,

e is from 0 to 5,

f is from 0 to 5,

g is from 0 to 0.2,

h is from 0 to 5, and

x is the number of oxygen atoms required to satisfy the valence requirements of the other component elements present;

wherein at least one heat-decomposable nitrogen-containing compound is added during the preparation of the catalyst and wherein the heat-decomposable nitrogen-containing compound is selected from the group consisting of ammonium compounds, nitrate compounds, nitrite compounds, amide compounds, nitro benzoic compounds, and ammonium hydroxide compounds.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the process for the preparation of the catalyst comprises:

(a) combining source compounds of metals which comprise the catalyst to form a catalyst precursor,

(b) drying the catalyst precursor to form catalyst particles, and

(c) calcining the catalyst particles to yield the catalyst.

3. The process of claim 2 , wherein the heat-decomposable nitrogen-containing compound is added to the catalyst precursor prior to drying.

4. The process of claim 2 , wherein a heat-decomposable nitrogen-containing compound is added to the catalyst particles prior to calcination.

5. The process of claim 4 , wherein a heat-decomposable nitrogen-containing compound is added to the catalyst particles by contacting the catalyst particles with a solution comprising the heat-decomposable nitrogen-containing compound to form catalyst particles impregnated with the heat-decomposable nitrogen containing compound.

6. The process of claim 2 , wherein the catalyst particles are calcined in nitrogen.

7. The process of claim 2 , wherein the catalyst precursor is spray-dried to form microspheroidal catalyst particles.

8. The process of claim 1 , wherein the heat-decomposable nitrogen-containing compound is added in an amount in the range of 0<weight of additive per weight of catalyst≦0.4.

9. The process of claim 8 , wherein the heat-decomposable nitrogen-containing compound is added in an amount in the range of 0.025<weight of additive per weight of catalyst≦0.3.

10. The process of claim 1 , wherein the heat-decomposable nitrogen-containing nitrogen containing compound is selected from the group consisting of alkyl ammonium compounds and alkyl ammonium hydroxide compounds.

11. The process of claim 1 , wherein the heat-decomposable nitrogen-containing compound is a nitrate compound selected from the group consisting of ammonium nitrate, and mono-, di-, tri- and tetra-alkyl ammonium nitrates.

12. The process of claim 1 , wherein the heat-decomposable nitrogen-containing nitrogen containing compound is a nitrite compound selected from the group consisting of ammonium nitrite, and mono-, di-, and tri-alkyl ammonium nitrites.

13. The process of claim 1 , wherein the heat-decomposable nitrogen-containing compound is urea.

14. The process of claim 1 , wherein the heat-decomposable nitrogen-containing compound is nitrobenzene.

15. A process for preparation of a catalyst, said catalyst comprising a complex of metal oxides wherein relative ratios of elements in said catalyst are represented by the following formula:

Mo 12 Bi a Fe b A c D d E e F f G g Ce h O x

wherein A is at least one element selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, rubidium and cesium;

D is at least one element selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, manganese, zinc, magnesium, calcium, strontium, cadmium and barium;

E is at least one element selected from the group consisting of chromium, tungsten, boron, aluminum, gallium, indium, phosphorus, arsenic, antimony, vanadium and tellurium;

F is at least one element selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, praseodymium, neodymium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, scandium, yttrium, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, niobium, tantalum, aluminum, gallium, indium, thallium, silicon, germanium, and lead;

G is at least one element selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, platinum and mercury; and

a is from 0.05 to 7,

b is from 0.1 to 7,

c is from 0.01 to 5,

d is from 0.1 to 12,

e is from 0 to 5,

f is from 0 to 5,

g is from 0 to 0.2,

h is from 0 to 5, and

x is the number of oxygen atoms required to satisfy the valence requirements of the other component elements present;

wherein at least one heat-decomposable nitrogen-containing compound is added during the preparation of the catalyst and wherein the heat-decomposable nitrogen-containing compound is selected from the group consisting of ammonium compounds, nitrate compounds, nitrite compounds, amide compounds, nitro benzoic compounds, and ammonium hydroxide compounds.