Selective ammoxidation catalysts

1. A catalytic composition, for use in the ammoxidation of an unsaturated hydrocarbon to the corresponding unsaturated nitrile, comprising a complex of metal oxides wherein the relative ratios of the listed elements in said catalyst are represented by the following formula:

Mo m Bi a Fe b A c D d E e F f G g Ce h Ni i Co j Mn k Mg l O #

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

D is at least one element selected from the group consisting of zinc, 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 wherein

a is from 0.05 to 7,

b is from 0.1 to 7,

c is from 0.01 to 5,

d is 0 or 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 0.01 to 5,

i is from 0.1 to 12,

j is 0 or j is from 0.1 to 12,

k is 0 or k is from 0.1 to 12,

l is 0 or 1 is from 0.1 to 12,

m is from 10 to 15,

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

wherein z=d+i+j+k+l;

0.45≤a/h<1.5;

0.3≤(a+h)/z;

0.25≤i/(i+j+k+l); and

wherein if the catalytic composition comprises lead, such lead is present in amounts less than about 10 ppm.

2. The catalytic composition of claim 1 , wherein 0.3≤i/(i+j+k+l).

3. The catalytic composition of claim 1 , wherein 0.5≤i/(i+j+k+l).

4. The catalytic composition of claim 1 , wherein 0.7≤i/(i+j+k+l).

5. The catalytic composition of claim 1 , wherein z=d+i+j+k+l and 0.3≤(a+h)/z≤1.

6. The catalytic composition of claim 1 , wherein 0.65≤a/h<1.5.

7. The catalytic composition of claim 1 , wherein 0.7≤a/h<1.5.

8. The catalytic composition of claim 1 , wherein 0.8≤a/h<1.5.

9. The catalytic composition of claim 1 , wherein 0.90≤a/h≤1.2.

10. The catalytic composition of claim 1 , wherein 0.8≤h/b≤5.

11. The catalytic composition of claim 1 , wherein 1.2≤h/b≤5.

12. The catalytic composition of claim 1 , wherein said catalyst composition comprises M 2+ MoO 4 cells with a cell volume defined as β; wherein 625 Å 3 ≤β≤630 Å 3 .

13. A catalytic composition, for use in the ammoxidation of an unsaturated hydrocarbon to the corresponding unsaturated nitrile, comprising a complex of metal oxides wherein the relative ratios of the listed elements in said catalyst are represented by the following formula:

Mo m Bi a Fe b A c D d E e F f G g Ce h Ni i Co j Mn k Mg l O #

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

D is at least one element selected from the group consisting of zinc, 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, lead and germanium;

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

a is from 0.05 to 7,

b is from 0.1 to 7,

c is from 0.01 to 5,

d is 0 or 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 0.01 to 5,

i is from 0.1 to 12,

j is 0 or j is from 0.1 to 12,

k is 0 or k is from 0.1 to 12,

l is 0 or 1 is from 0.1 to 12,

m is from 10 to 15,

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

wherein 0.45≤a/h<1.5;

0.3≤(a+h)/z≤0.4;

z=d+i+j+k+l; and

0.25≤i/(i+j+k+l).

14. A catalytic composition, for use in the ammoxidation of an unsaturated hydrocarbon to the corresponding unsaturated nitrile, comprising a complex of metal oxides wherein the relative ratios of the listed elements in said catalyst are represented by the following formula:

Mo m Bi a Fe b A c D d E e F f G g C eh Ni i Co j Mn k Mg l O #

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

D is at least one element selected from the group consisting of zinc, 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, lead and germanium;

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

a is from 0.05 to 7,

b is from 0.1 to 7,

c is from 0.01 to 5,

d is 0 or 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 0.01 to 5,

i is from 0.1 to 12,

j is 0 or j is from 0.1 to 12,

k is 0 or k is from 0.1 to 12,

l is 0 or 1 is from 0.1 to 12,

m is from 10 to 15,

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

wherein 0.7≤a/h<1.5;

0.3≤(a+h)/z;

z=d+i+j+k+l; and

0.25≤i/(i+j+k+l).