Appeal No. 96-1188
Application No. 08/240,800
Strong does not alleviate the deficiencies of Canada '378
and Talonen. Strong discloses the absorption of sulfur
dioxide gas in an aqueous sulfide solution to form a
precipitate that is predominantly metal sulfite and elemental
sulfur. Strong does not disclose the production of hydrogen
sulfide and, although the reference teaches that it is
possible to form some metal bisulfite, it is disclosed that
"the bisulfite forms only when the pH of the solution is
relatively low, and at such pH, there is an insufficient
absorption of sulfur dioxide in the slurry, and excessive
sulfur dioxide may pass through the slurry to atmosphere"
(column 4, lines 3-7). Since the primary goal of Strong is to
obtain the maximum removal of sulfur dioxide (column 4, lines
7 et seq.), it is clear that Strong provides a teaching away
from the claimed process of forming bisulfite in the reactor.
The examiner states at page 3 of the Answer that "[i]t
would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the
art at the time the invention was made to have modified the
scrubbing system of '378 as suggested by Talonen and Strong
because doing so assures complete removal of SO ." However,
x
the examiner has failed to sufficiently explain how the
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