Process for manufacturing gels containing iron and molybdenum and the uses thereof.

1282950 Gels containing iron and molybdenum INSTITUT FRANCAIS DU PETROLE DES CARBURANTS ET LUBRIFIANTS 5 Feb 1970 [7 Feb 1969] 5618/70 Heading C1A A process for producing a transparent gel containing iron and molybdenum comprises mixing at least one of molybdic anhydride or a salt comprising a molybdenum containing anion with the exception of alkali metal molybdates with at least one ferric compound and, optionally, at least one compound containing, in simple cationic form, a metal M selected from Co, Ni, Mn, Cr, Sc, Y, and the rare earth metals (At. Nos. 57-71 inc.), in the presence of a quantity of water not greater than that required to form individual saturated aqueous solutions of the compounds, and at a temperature between the freezing temperature of the saturated solutions of the compounds and 150‹ C., the compounds being used in such amounts that the atomic ratio M/(Fe + M) is from 0 to 0À5 and the atomic ratio Mo/(Fe+M) is from 0À4 to 5. The Mo compound may also be mixed with at least one compound containing, in the form of an oxygencontaining complex, a metal N selected from, Cr, W, Mn, V and U, the compounds being used in such amounts that the ratios M/(Fe+M) and N(Mo+N) are 0 to 5 and the ratio (Mo+N)/ (Fe+M) is 0À4 to 5. The gels in which the atomic ratio Mo/(Fe+M) or (Mo+N)/(Fe+M) is from 1À5 to 5 may be heated to from 300‹ to 500‹ C. to produce a mixed oxide catalyst which may be used in the oxidation of an alcohol to an aldehyde.