Appeal No. 2000-1868
Application No. 08/730,217
the examiner has failed to provide any convincing evidence or
reasoning of a motivation to combine the references as proposed.
Andrews relates to the treatment of aluminous materials
containing iron for the purpose of reducing the iron content by
the leaching action of hydrochloric acid and metal chlorides
(col. 1, ll. 6-9; col. 3, l. 41-col. 4, l. 8). Andrews teaches
recovery of chloride values for recycling by heating a recovered
mixture of aluminum chloride hexahydrate and basic aluminum
chloride hydrates at temperatures in excess of 800°C. to remove
all traces of chloride from the chloride hydrate crystals and to
complete the alpha alumina transition (col. 7, ll. 15-39).
Since Andrews teaches that alpha alumina is formed at
temperatures in excess of 800°C., the examiner concludes that
this disclosure suggests “that alpha alumina is heated/calcined
at these temperatures” (Answer, page 12). However, as correctly
argued by appellants (Brief, page 17), Andrews merely forms alpha
alumina and does not disclose or suggest heating alpha alumina
powder containing halogen, as is required by the claimed subject
matter on appeal (e.g., see claim 1).
Cambridge is directed to a process for forming high purity
alumina from Bayer Process alumina trihydrate, wherein the
hydrated alumina is reacted with concentrated hydrochloric acid
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