Appeal No. 2000-0697
Application No. 09/049938
oxidic carrier, after which at least part of the effluent from
the first catalyst is contacted with a second catalyst comprising
a Group VI hydrogenation metal component and a Group VIII
hydrogenation metal component on an oxidic carrier which
comprises 3 to 15 wt.% of silica, calculated on the weight of the
catalyst, to achieve the reduction in the sulphur of the
hydrocarbon feedstock to less than 500 ppm.
The examiner relies upon the following reference as evidence
of obviousness:
Riley 4,048,060 Sep. 13, 1977
Appellants' claimed invention is directed to a process for
reducing the sulphur content of a hydrocarbon feedstock having a
95% boiling point of 450°C or less and a sulphur content of at
least 0.1 wt.%. The process is conducted in the presence of
first and second hydrogenation catalysts wherein the second
catalyst comprises an oxidic carrier of 3-15 wt.% silica. The
product of the process has a sulphur content of less than
500 ppm.
Appealed claims 1-6 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as
being unpatentable over Riley.
Upon careful consideration of the opposing arguments
presented on appeal, we find that the examiner has not
established a prima facie case of obviousness for the claimed
process. Accordingly, we will not sustain the examiner's
rejection.
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