Appeal No. 2004-1043
Application No. 09/960,907
Regarding claims 1,10,18 and 27, Beck discloses a
method for producing aluminum comprising the following
steps (see entire document):
(a) Providing a molten salt electrolyte at a
temperature less than 900°C having alumina dissolved
therein in an electrolytic cell having an anodic liner,
wherein the liner has walls and a bottom and is
substantially inert to the electrolyte;
(b) Providing a plurality of non-consumable anodes and
cathodes disposed in the electrolyte;
(c) Passing an electric current through the anodes and
through the electrolyte to the cathodes, depositing
aluminum on the cathodes and. generating oxygen bubbles
that stir the electrolyte.
Regarding claims 2, 11, 19 and 28, Beck discloses the
use of an electrolyte temperature of 750°C (abstract).
Regarding claims 3, 12, 20 and 29, Beck discloses the
use of alkali metal fluorides in the bath including NaF
(introduction).
Regarding claims 8, 15, 23 and 32, Beck uses anodes
and an anodic liner made of Cu-Ni-Fe alloy (p. 359, col.1).
Regarding claims 7, 16, 24 and 33, Beck provides an
example of a cell operated at 0.5 A/cm2 (p. 359, col. 2).
Regarding claims 8, 17, 25 and 34, Beck discloses the
use of titanium diboride cathodes (abstract).
The method of Beck differs from the instant invention
because Beck does not disclose the following:
a. Periodically reducing the electric
current flow to the cell and applying heat
to the bottom of the cell to maintain the
bath in a molten state, as recited in claims
1 and 10;
10
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