A range of silica supported molybdenum catalysts and ranges of vanadium catalysts supported on silica and boron nitride have been prepared, characterised and tested for propane oxidation. The silica supported molybdenum catalysts demonstrated appreciable activity for propane total oxidation to carbon oxides, with trace acrolein in some cases. The silica supported vanadium catalysts were also active for propane oxidation, and although the major oxidation product was CO2, higher selectivity to acrolein was observed when compared to the silica supported molybdenum catalysts. The use of boron nitride as support significantly increased the selectivity towards acrolein. The boron nitride support has a low surface area (SA) (7 m(2) g(-1)) and it is also hydrophobic. Temperature programmed reduction showed that the vanadium species supported on boron nitride were chemically different from those supported on silica and it is envisaged that this in combination with the characteristics of the boron nitride support are important for the improved acrolein selectivity. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.