Appeal 1997-1635
Application 08/319,667
A. Findings of fact
The record supports the following findings by a
preponderance of the evidence.
The claims
1. The claims on appeal are claims 1-10.
2. Applicants tell us that claims 1-10 stand or
fall together (Appeal Brief, page 3).
3. Independent claim 1 reads (matter in brackets,
indentation and paragraph numbering added):
A process for purifying a (meth)acrylic acid [i.e.,
an acrylic acid or a methacrylic acid (specification,
page 1, lines 13-14)] contaminated with aldehydes,
[1] in which a primary amine [i.e., a compound
containing at least one )NH group (specification, page 1,
2
lines 14-15)] or a salt thereof is added to the
(meth)acrylic acid
[2] and the (meth)acrylic acid is separated from the
mixture by distillation,[2]
[3] wherein, in addition to the added primary amine
or its salts, at least one organic sulfonic acid or one
of its salts is added to the (meth)acrylic acid
There is no antecedent in the claim for "the mixture".2
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