To provide an easily separable and recoverable solid catalyst which achieves oxidation and reaction of an alkane under mild conditions to produce the corresponding alcohol and/or ketone in a high yield with respect to a catalyst used in liquid phase oxidation of an alkane with hydrogen peroxide as an oxidizing agent.

The catalyst for liquid phase oxidation of an alkane using hydrogen peroxide as an oxidizing agent comprises a niobium-containing metal oxide porous body containing niobium of 0.1-20 wt.% (expressed in terms of metal niobium).