Appeal No. 1997-2627
Application No. 08/424,122
it has been unexpectedly found that a polyethylene film which
will pass no current when used alone in an electrochemical
cell will pass up to one amp or more per square centimeter
when provided with the disclosed porous layer, coating or
surface treatment to form the membrane assembly (col. 3, lines
37-47). It is this membrane assembly, rather than the
polyethylene film alone, which Moeglich ‘475 states can be
used in the disclosed apparatus (col. 7, lines 13-15). The
examiner has not explained, and it is not apparent, why this
membrane assembly, which will pass up to one amp or more per
square centimeter, has a specific electrical conductivity
which is the same magnitude as that of high density
polyethylene when immersed in the electrolytic solution.
The Moeglich ‘475 sandwich membrane (29) in figure 5b has
a film membrane (28) which is as shown in Moeglich ‘458 and is
composed of substantially water impermeable, ion impermeable
insulating material, particularly polyethylene, having a
thickness of about 0.001 to 1 mm (1-1000Fm) (col. 6, lines 56-
61). Moeglich ‘475 teaches that the film membrane 28 is
disposed substantially perpendicular to the direction A
(figure 5b) of ion transport across the capillary membrane
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