Ex parte KOURTAKIS et al. - Page 8





                    Appeal No. 1996-3674                                                                                                                                  
                    Application No. 08/451,826                                                                                                                            



                              Here, the specification makes clear that appellants’ invention is directed to “an improvement in                                            

                    ... [zeolite catalysts useful for the production of methylamines] whereby they are blended with one or                                                

                    more microparticulate binders during formation, which renders the catalyst particles attrition resistant                                              

                    and therefore suitable for use in fluidized bed reactor processes” (page 1, lines 13-17).  Moreover, “for                                             

                    a catalyst to be considered attrition resistant, the attrition ratio (AR)  should be less than or equal to2                                                           

                    about 3" (specification, page 15, lines 12-14).  Thus, in this case, the words “attrition resistant,” as                                              

                    specifically defined in the specification, are essential to point out the invention defined by the claims, i.e.,                                      

                    they breathe life and meaning to the claims.  Therefore, in this case, the preamble does limit the scope                                              

                    of the claims to a process for producing a defined “attrition resistant” catalyst composition.  Thus, it                                              

                    follows that the examiner has failed to address all of the claim limitations.  In short, the examiner has not                                         

                    pointed out and we do not find where Bergna, Abrams, Beck or THE CONDENSED CHEMICAL                                                                   

                    DICTIONARY disclose or suggest a process of producing a catalyst having an attrition ratio less than                                                  



                              2As set forth in the paragraph bridging pages 14-15 of the specification,                                                                   
                                        Attrition measurements are performed using an attrition mill which simulates particle                                             
                              attrition near the gas spargers of a fluidized bed.  A catalyst charge is loaded into a column fitted                                       
                              with a single 0.016" perforation.  Air flows through the perforation, fluidizes the catalyst bed, and                                       
                              causes attrition.  For most measurements, the constant air flow through the mill is calibrated to                                           
                              yield a linear velocity of 760 ft/s through the orifice; this compares to a typical velocity of 150 ft/s                                    
                              in a commercial fuel spargers.  The attrition mill measurement accelerates attrition by a factor of                                         
                              roughly thirty.  A 24 hour attrition measurement is a reliable indicator of attrition in a commercial                                       
                              reactor.  Attrited fines (i.e., those particles lower than 20 micrometers in diameter) are collected in                                     
                              an overhead flask which is fitted with a porous thimble.  Flask weight, recorded as a function of                                           
                              time, is used to calculate attrition.  The determination of attrition is calculated as an attrition ratio,                                  
                              AR:  catalyst attrition divided by the attrition rate of a fluid cracking catalyst standard (FCC).  The                                     
                              FCC standard is supplied by Davison Chemical, Baltimore Maryland (SMR-5-5209-0293).                                                         
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