A process for the preparation of ti-pillared clay based vanadia catalyst

This invention relates to a process for the preparation of highly active and selective ammoxidation catalyst using a complex metal oxide containing P, V and Mo supported on Ti PILC which process involves heating on water bath a vanadium source with oxalic acid in the presence of water to form vanadyl oxalate; adding a source of phosphorous and a source of Mo and Ti-PILC and heating the resultant mixture in the presence of air at a temperature in the range of 110-450°C for a period in the range of 15 to 35 h and the use of said ammoxidation catalyst in the preparation of heteroaromatic nitriles from methyl pyridines which comprises passing as a reactant stream a gaseous mixture comprising, a methyl substituted pyridine, ammonia and oxygen (air) over the fixed bed ammoxidation catalyst at a temperature of about 350 - 450°C.