Hideo Onodera

Catalyst for production of methacrylic acid and method for production of methacrylic acid by the use of the catalyst

A catalyst for the production of methacrylic acid by the vapor-phase catalyst oxidation and/or oxidative dehydrogenation of at least one compound selected rom the group consisting of methacrolein, isobutyl aldehyde, and isobutyric acid and a method for the production of methacrylic acid by the use of this catalyst are provided. The catalyst of this invention comprises (A) a composite oxide having Mo and P as essential components and used for the production of methacrylic acid by vapor-phase catalytic oxidation and/or oxidative dehydrogenation of methacrolein, isobutyl aldehyde, and/or isobutyric acid and (B) a solid acid having acid strength (Ho) of not more than -11.93. Since this catalyst excels in catalytic activity and service life, it allows methacrylic acid to be produced stably at a high yield for a long time.