Appeal No. 2002-1097
Application 09/382,613
According to appellants, the invention is directed to
a purification process where a contaminated composition which
includes a polycarbonate polymer and a specified impurity is
contacted with an alumina adsorbent, with a portion of the
impurity binding to the adsorbent (Brief, page 2). Illustrative
independent claim 1 is reproduced below:
1. A purification process comprising: contacting a
contaminated composition comprised of an optional fluid, a
polymer, and an impurity with an adsorbent composition including
an adsorbent, wherein the adsorbent is selected from the group
consisting of an alumina and a magnesium sulfate, wherein a
portion of the impurity binds to the adsorbent, wherein the
polymer is a polycarbonate, a carbazole, a polyarylate, or a
copolyester having the formula
O
5
HOC ———(diacid ——— diol)n ——— OH
where n is the degree of polymerization wherein the impurity is
at least one of a salt, a polar material, and a surfactant.
The examiner has relied upon the following references
as evidence of obviousness:
Tanaka et al. (Tanaka) 5,294,356 Mar. 15, 1994
McDaniel et al. (McDaniel) 6,077,978 Jun. 20, 2000
(filed Sep. 17, 1997)
The claims on appeal stand rejected under 35 U.S.C.
§ 103(a) as unpatentable over Tanaka in view of McDaniel (Answer,
2
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