The addition of 1, 2 and 5 mol % of Zr dopant into vanadium phosphate (VPO) catalysts produced a single pyrophosphate phase synthesized via VOPO₄·2H₂O method with different degree of crystallinity. The presence of lower percentage of Zr (1 and 2%) improved the surface area of the catalysts; however, the surface area of the catalyst with 5% of Zr added was significantly low. The SEM micrographs for all Zr modified catalysts gave roughed rosebud agglomerates as compared to the undoped catalyst. VPDZr1 catalyst was found to be the most selective catalyst among all the Zr doped catalysts in propane oxidation to acrylic acid.