Appeal No. 1997-2974
Application No. 08/288,313
Appellant's claimed invention is directed to an
industrial scale process for preparing P zeolite of the
recited formula. The method entails mixing a sodium aluminate
solution and a sodium silicate solution in the presence of a
slurry of P zeolite seed to form a gel of the specified
formula. The P zeolite finds utility in detergent
formulations to remove calcium and magnesium hardness ions.
Appealed claim 2 stands rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as
being unpatentable over Brown in view of Vaughan.
We have thoroughly reviewed each of appellant's arguments
for patentability. However, we are in complete agreement with
the examiner that the claimed subject matter would have been
obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art within the meaning
of § 103 in view of the applied prior art. Accordingly, we
will sustain the examiner's rejection for essentially those
reasons expressed in the Answer.
As set forth by the examiner, Brown, like appellant,
discloses a process for preparing a P zeolite having a silicon
to aluminum ratio within the claimed range that is used in
detergent compositions. Brown does not disclose the claimed
use of P zeolite seed to form the gel but, as pointed out by
-4-
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007