Appeal No. 1996-3318
Application No. 08/287,056
reactants and the nature of the liquids treated. The biocide generated by Orndorff is an
oxidized phenolic compound, e.g.,
hydrogen peroxidase
H O + quinone2 2 6 2 H O + hydroquinone, 2
whereas the biocide generated by Alfa-Laval is hydrogen peroxide, i.e.,
glucose oxidase
glucose + O 2 6 gluconic acid + H O 2 2 .
The phenolic compound which is oxidized to provide the biocide of Orndorff is
endogenous to the liquid being treated, i.e., to industrial process waters. The examiner
has not established that milk contains such phenolic compounds and admits that "the
liquids of industrial process streams are not distinctly disclosed" by Alfa-Laval (answer,
page 5).
The examiner does not point out, and we do not find, where Hitzman and/or Baker
supply the missing suggestion or motivation. Hitzman removes ambient oxygen in liquids
susceptible to corrosion and oxidative degradation, e.g., oil field fluids, circulating water
systems, alcoholic beverages and foodstuffs, with an alcohol/alcohol oxidase system.
Baker removes oxygen from canned milk and other industrial products using various
oxidase/substrate systems (cols. 1-2). Rather, both Hitzman and Baker suggest that the
presence of hydrogen peroxide may be undesirable in some liquids
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