Appeal No. 2001-2491 Page 2
Application No. 09/168,564
BACKGROUND
Appellants’ invention relates to a process for the hydroisomerization of long-chain n-
paraffins (specification at 1, ll. 3-4). Claim 1 is illustrative:
1. A process for the hydroisomerization of long-chain n-paraffins which comprises
isomerizing n–paraffins having a number of carbon atoms higher than 15 in the presence of
hydrogen and a hydroisomerization catalyst which comprises:
a) a carrier of acid nature consisting of a silica and alumina gel amorphous to X-rays,
with a molar ratio SiO2/A12O3 ranging from 30/1 to 500/1, and having a surface
area ranging from 500 to 1,000 m2/g, a porosity ranging from 0.3 to 0.6 ml/g and a
pore diameter within the range of 10-40 Angstrom;
b) a mixture of metals, wherein said mixture contains at least one metal belonging to
group VIB in an amount of from 5 to 35 % by weight, and at least one metal
belonging to group VIII in an amount of from 0.1 to 5% by weight, deposited on
the carrier, each amount based on the total of said carrier of acid nature and said
mixture of metals.
The prior art references of record relied upon by the Examiner in rejecting the appealed
claims are:
Wittenbrink et al. (Wittenbrink) 5,866,748 Feb. 2, 1999
(Filed Apr. 23, 1996)
Perego et al. (Perego) 5,968,344 Oct. 19, 1999
(eff. filing date
of Jul. 30, 1993)
Achia et al. (Achia) 0 321 307 June 21, 1989
European Patent Application
Claims 1-3, 6, and 7 stand rejected under the judicially created doctrine of obviousness-
type double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-3 of Perego in view of Achia or
Wittenbrink. Claims 1-7 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being unpatentable over
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