Appeal No: 1997-1820
Application No: 08/313,941
an acid wash would inherently produce a catalyst having the
limitations on sulfur and phosphorus content required by the
claimed invention since applicant also uses an acid wash
(Paper 32 at 4-5).
Both Goleva and Hassler teach acid washing of carbon.
While Goleva teaches that acid washing improves the
catalytic activity of carbon in a dehydrochlorination
reaction, the examiner has provided no reason why one skilled
in the art performing the Miller hydrogenation reaction would
have looked to the Goleva dehydrochlorination reaction for an
appropriate catalyst. Accordingly, Goleva would not have
suggested acid washing the carbon support used in the Miller
hydrogenation reaction.
Hassler teaches that acid washing carbon removes sodium
sulfate, replacing it with sulfuric acid through an ion
exchange reaction. Since sulfates are not toxic in reactions
(Richardson at 206), Hassler would not have suggested that
acid washing the carbon would decrease toxicity.
The examiner further states that "it is clear from
Hassler that various impurities such as iron, sulfur,
phosphorus and sodium are present in some commercial activated
charcoals in only trace amounts" (Paper 32 at 5).
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