Catalyst compositions and process for direct production of hydrogen cyanide in an acrylonitrile reactor feed stream

1. A catalyst composition comprising a mixed oxide catalyst of formula

FeMo i Cr j Bi k M m N n Q q X x Y y O r   (II)

wherein in the formula (II):

M is Ce and/or Sb;

N is La, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Ti, Zr, Hf, B, Al, Ga, In, TI, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, P, and/or As;

Q is Ru, and/or Os;

X is Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag, Au, Zn, Cd, Hg, Mn, Re, V, Nb, Ta, Se, and/or Te;

Y is an alkaline earth metal and/or an alkali metal;

0.2≤i≤100;

0≤j≤2;

0≤k≤2;

0.05≤m≤10;

0≤n≤200;

0<q≤8;

0≤x≤30;

0≤y≤8;

j and k<i;

m>j; and

r is the number of oxygen atoms required to satisfy the valence requirements of the component elements other than oxygen present in formula (II),

wherein:

4≤m+n+q+x+y≤200;

0<q+x+y≤30; and

wherein the catalyst composition has a surface area of from 2 to 500 m2/g as determined by the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method.

2. The catalyst composition according to claim 1 , wherein in the formula (II):

0.3≤i≤50;

0≤j≤1.5;

0≤k≤1.5;

0.1≤m≤8;

0≤n≤100;

0<q≤3;

0≤x≤10;

0≤y≤3;

j and k<i;

m>j;

4.5≤m+n+q+x+y≤100;

0<q+x+y≤10.

3. The catalyst composition according to claim 2 , wherein in the formula (II):

0.5≤i≤50;

0≤j≤0.5;

0≤k≤0.75;

0.2≤m≤5;

0≤n≤60;

0<q≤1.5;

0≤x≤5;

0≤y≤2;

j and k<i;

m>j;

5≤m+n+q+x+y≤60; and

0<q+x+y≤7.5.

4. The catalyst composition according to claim 1 , wherein the catalyst composition consists of a mixed oxide catalyst of the formula (II) and a support.

5. The catalyst composition according to claim 1 , wherein the catalyst composition further comprises a support selected from the group consisting of silica, zirconia, titania, alumina and mixtures thereof.

6. The catalyst composition according to claim 5 , wherein the support comprises between 20 and 80 weight percent by weight of the catalyst composition.

7. The catalyst composition according to claim 5 , wherein the support is colloidal silica having an average particle size ranging from approximately 2 to 1,000 nm in diameter.

8. The catalyst composition according to claim 5 , wherein the catalyst composition is in a form selected from the group consisting of spheres, granules, pellets, extrudates, cylinders, trilobes, quadrilobes, ribs, rings, monoliths, wagon wheels, gauzes and mixtures thereof.

9. The catalyst composition according to any claim 5 , wherein the catalyst composition is coated onto a monolith structure.

10. The catalyst composition according to claim 9 , wherein the monolith is selected from the group consisting of cordierite, a ceramic, a metal, a zeolite, a carbide, mullite, alumina, a clay, carbon and mixtures thereof.

11. The catalyst composition according to claim 1 , wherein the catalyst composition consists of a mixed oxide catalyst of the formula (II) and a support.

12. The catalyst composition according to claim 1 , wherein the ratio of Fe to Mo is 1:48.

13. The catalyst composition according to claim 1 , wherein in the formula (II):

M is Sb;

N is La, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, and/or Si;

Q is Ru;

X is Co; and

Y is Mg.

14. The catalyst composition according to claim 1 , wherein in the formula (II):

M is Ce and Sb;

N is La, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Si, and/or Sn;

Q is Ru;

X is Ni and Re; and

Y is an alkaline earth metal and/or an alkali metal, wherein y is 0.

15. The catalyst composition according to claim 1 , wherein in the formula (II):

M is Ce;

N is Si;

Q is Ru;

X is Mn and Re;

Y is an alkaline earth metal and/or an alkali metal, wherein y is 0.

16. The catalyst composition according to claim 1 , wherein in the formula (II):

M is Sb;

N is Si;

Q is Ru;

X is Ni, Zn, and Re;

Y is Mg.