A new approach using fine metallic tellurium, such as tellurium fibers for Te source and adding porosity generation substances to the preparation of MoVNbTe mixed oxide catalyst aimed at selective oxidation of propane to acrylic acid has been developed. This approach leads to an enrichment of phase M1, the most effective phase for the reaction, of the phase constitution and provides uniform crystalline particles with a low level of agglomeration and a high surface area. The obtained catalyst exhibited a 48% acrylic acid yield (63.4% conversion and 75.6% selectivity) under a reaction temperature of 380 degrees C and a low steam/propane ratio of 6.5. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.