Ex parte SPENCER - Page 2




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             an inert gas selected from the group consisting of argon, neon, krypton, xenon or a                     
             mixture thereof into fruit or fruit juice.  At least 50% of full gas saturation of the                  
             fruit or fruit juice is maintained during the enzymatic process.  It is required that a                 
                                        o                                                                            
             temperature of 10 to 30 C and a pressure of less than 10 atmospheres be maintained                      
             during the enzymatic process                                                                            


                                                   THE CLAIMS                                                        
             Claims 112 is illustrative of appellants’ invention and is reproduced below.                            
             112.  A method for enhancing pectinase activity in an enzymatic process using at least                  
             one enzyme having pectinase activity, which comprises:                                                  
                    a)  injecting a gas into a fruit juice containing at least one enzyme having                     
             pectinase activity, the gas consisting essentially of argon, neon krypton, xenon or a                   
             mixture thereof;                                                                                        
                    b) saturating the fruit or fruit juice with the gas to an extent of at least 50%                 
             of full saturation of said fruit or fruit juice with said gas; and                                      
                    c)  maintaining the saturation substantially throughout the fruit or fruit juice,                
             and during said enzymatic process at a temperature of from 10 to 30°C and at a                          
             pressure of less than 10 atm.                                                                           












                                          THE REFERENCES OF RECORD                                                   
             As evidence of obviousness, the examiner relies upon the following references.                          







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