Preparing precursors for transition metal mixed oxides, comprises: (a1) precipitating a material comprising metal oxide compounds (I) from aqueous solution at a pH value of 8-9, where the total concentration of the transition metals in the mother liquor is 50-2000 ppm; and (b1) separating the precipitated material from the mother liquor, where the particles of the materials have a spherical shape. Preparing precursors for transition metal mixed oxides, comprises: (a1) precipitating a material comprising metal oxide compounds of formula (M(CO 3) bO c(OH) dA1 mB1 e(SO 4) fX g(PO 4) h) (I) from aqueous solution at a pH value of 8-9, where the total concentration of the transition metals in the mother liquor is 50-2000 ppm; and (b1) separating the precipitated material from the mother liquor, where the particles of the materials have a spherical shape. M : one or more transition metals; A1 : Na or K; B1 : one or more metals of 1-3 groups of the periodic system, where Na and K are excluded; X : halide, nitrate or
