Appeal No. 2002-0972
Application 08/816,466
Regarding the preparation of the catalyst system, Uvarov
teaches (col. 3, lines 8-23):
To obtain a catalyst based on titanium chloride,
the carrier is treated with titanium chloride or a
solution thereof in vacuum or in the atmosphere of an
inert gas at a temperature within the range of from
-70º to +180ºC.
It is possible to prepare a catalyst based on
titanium chloride by way of treatment of the carrier in
succession or in combination with titanium chloride and
an organo-aluminum compound (or with solutions thereof)
in vacuum or in the atmosphere of an inert gas at a
temperature within the range of from -70º to +180ºC.
The resulting catalyst is dried in vacuum at a
temperature of 80º to 180ºC.
To prepare a catalyst based on vanadium chloride,
the carrier is treated with vapors or solutions of
vanadium chloride and dried in vacuum.
The examiner argues that one of ordinary skill in the art
would have recognized that when Uvarov drys his catalyst by
heating it under vacuum in a flask (example 1), the pressure in
the flask increases and, consequently, the solution flows to a
region of lower pressure, namely, the catalyst pores (answer,
pages 5-6). Therefore, the examiner argues, if Uvarov’s process
were applied to Nowlin’s catalyst, the appellant’s claimed
invention would result (answer, page 5). Motivation for
combining the teachings of these references, the examiner argues,
4
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007