Appeal No. 96-3486
Application No. 08/291,565
impregnation step instead. Appellants show that the
former catalyst, illustrating the claimed method,
exhibits greater efficiency in converting carbon
monoxide, nitrous oxides and hydrocarbons. Experiment II
therefore demonstrates the critical function iron salts
play in improving the catalyst’s performance and that
this function is enhanced by including them in the
suspension.
Brunelle does not teach or suggest atomizing with
any of the refractory oxides listed in the claims.
Koberstein teaches this but does not suggest also
including iron salts. Therefore, in order to apply
Brunelle, which is limited to boehmite and amorphous
alumina, and Koberstein, which is limited to a
crystalline alumina/cerium salt combination, against the
claimed invention, one must take the position
that, in the preparation of catalysts using the
atomization technique, the type of refractory inorganic
oxide is
immaterial – the result of using one is equivalent to
using any other - and not affected by the presence or
absence of iron salts in the atomized powder. In light
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