Appeal No. 1998-2228
Application No. 08/523,405
ability to absorb or react with sulfur dioxide. We find this
line of argument unconvincing for a number of reasons. First,
Koberstein does not require annealing temperatures as high as
1,000 C. Annealing may be conducted at lower temperatureso
according to Koberstein (col. 2, ll. 3-5; examples 6-9). Second,
appellants have not shown that annealing, at least at the lower
end of the temperature range of Koberstein, would completely
negate the ability of the cerium oxide catalyst to absorb or
react with sulfur dioxide. Third, in view of the teachings of
Murrell, one of ordinary skill in the art would expect that use
of cerium oxide microdomain structures in the Koberstein catalyst
would, if anything, enhance surface area stability at high
temperatures.
IV., V.
With regard to the other rejections under 35 U.S.C.
§ 103(a), we are in substantial agreement with the examiner’s
position, as adequately set forth in the examiner’s answer (pages
6-7 and 11-13). Accordingly, we adopt that position as our own.
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