Process for simultaneously producing methacrylonitrile and butadiene by vapor-phase catalytic oxidation of mixed butenes

Abstract

This invention provides a process for simultaneously producing methacrylonitrile and butadiene which comprises contacting a mixture of mixed butenes containing isobutene and n-butenes, oxygen and ammonia as the substantial reactants with a catalyst containing as the active component a composition having the empirical formula Fe 10 - W 1-30 X 0 .01-15 Me 0 .01-5 O 12-143 wherein X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of P, B and Te, and Me represents V and/or Mo in vapor phase.

We claim: 
     
       1. Process for simultaneously producing methacrylonitrile and butadiene which comprises contacting a mixture of butenes consisting essentially of isobutene and n-butene, oxygen and ammonia in vapor phase at a temperature of from about 350° to 500°C with a catalyst consisting of an oxide composition containing the elements in atomic ratio according to the formula Fe 10  W a  X b  Me c  O d     wherein X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of phosphorus, boron and tellurium; Me is at least one element selected from the group consisting of vanadium and molybdenum; the subscripts denote atomic ratio and have the values:   a = 1-30   b = 0.01-15   c = 0.01-5; and d is a value corresponding to the oxides formed from the above components by combination and is from 12 to 143, wherein said catalyst is produced by intimately mixing at least one compound of each of the respective elements in an aqueous system, heating to dryness and calcining at a temperature from about 400° to about 950°C for 2 to 48 hours.     
     
     
       2. The process of claim 1, wherein said mixtures of butenes consists essentially of from about 10 to about 90 percent isobutene and about 10 to about 90 percent 1-butene and/or 2-butene; the oxygen/mixed butene molar ratio is from 0.5/1 to 6/1; and the ammonia/isobutene molar ratio is from 1/1 to 6/1. 
     
     
       3. Process according to claim 1 wherein space velocity of said starting mixture is within the range from 5,000 to 100 hr..sup. -1 . 
     
     
       4. Process according to claim 1 wherein said catalyst is in combination with silica carrier in a portion from 10 to 90 percent by weight.