Appeal No. 2001-2457
Application No. 09/168,979
21. A process which comprises:
(a) distilling a hydrocarbon stream that contains
neo-hexane, hydrocarbon impurities, and at least
25 wt.% of cyclopentene to separate a neo-hexane-
containing fraction from a lower-boiling fraction
that contains cyclopentene and hydrocarbon
impurities;
(b) hydrogenating the lower-boiling fraction in the
presence of a catalyst to produce a mixture of
cyclopentane and saturated C4-C5 hydrocarbons;
and
(c) distilling the hydrogenated mixture to recover
cyclopentane having a purity greater than 85%.
The examiner relies upon the following references as
evidence of obviousness:
Derrien et al. (Derrien) 4,361,422 Nov. 30, 1982
Kanne et al. (Kanne) 0 799 881 A2 Oct. 8, 1997
(published European Patent Application)1
The claims on appeal stand rejected under 35 U.S.C.
§ 103(a) as unpatentable over Kanne in view of Derrien (Answer,
page 3). We reverse this rejection essentially for the reasons
stated in the Brief, Reply Brief, and those set forth below.
1We rely upon and cite from a full English translation of
this document, previously made of record.
2
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