Appeal No. 1996-2320
Application 08/221,224
Claim 1: Guertin discloses a process for making alkyl
sulfonyl chlorides (col. 1, lines 3-4) by continuously
reacting a compound of the formula RSX, where X is hydrogen or
a radical of the formula SR’ and R and R’ are alkyl groups
having one to 20 carbon atoms (col. 1, lines 52-56), with at
least a stoichiometric amount of chlorine in a reaction zone
free of a mechanical agitation device and containing aqueous
hydrochloric acid at a feed rate at least sufficient to
achieve a vigorous evolution of hydrochloride gas (col. 1,
lines 33-43; col. 2, lines 17-19). The product and
hydrochloride gas are separately withdrawn from the reactor
(col. 2, line 69 - col. 3, line 7).
Guertin does not disclose use of stationary mixing
elements in the reactor to promote plug flow. However, Koch
discloses (page 7) that “[s]tatic mixing units provide the
radial mixing and plug flow needed to perform continuous
chemical reactions.” Koch teaches (page 7) that “[a]n empty
pipe makes a poor continuous reactor because the material in
the center of the pipe travels at nearly twice the average
product velocity, while the material at the wall travels much
slower” such that material in the center exits before it is
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