Appeal No. 2005-0766
Application No. 09/877,277
sulfur compounds. The overhead pressure is maintained at
about 0 to 250 psig with the corresponding temperature in
the distillation reaction zone of between 400 to 700oF.”
col. 5, lines 23-27. In the figure relied on by the
examiner, the temperature is 550-600oF” (col. 6, 44); and in
‘378 [i.e., Gildert] “Typical conditions in a reaction
distillation zone of a naphtha hydrodesulfurization
distillation column reactor are: Temperature 450-700
oF . . .” col. 5, lines 59-65.
Therefore, neither of these references disclose
conditions, and particularly use conditions which would
result in the process claimed in claim 1 and inherency is
not truly, even a remote possibility.
This argument is unpersuasive for a number of reasons.
Initially, it is important to stress that the processes claimed
by the appellant and disclosed by the applied references possess
many commonalities. Not only do these processes exhibit common
feedstocks (i.e., full boiling range naphtha and hydrogen),
catalysts and reaction conditions as noted by the examiner, they
also are disclosed as possessing common advantages (e.g.,
desulfurization without substantial loss of olefins) and as
achieving common goals (e.g., yielding a light naphtha product in
the first distillation column reactor). See, for example: the
“SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION” (as well as the paragraph thereabove)
in the respective specifications of the appellant, Podrebarac and
Gildert; as well as the appellant’s specification disclosure at
line 2 on page 12 through line 5 on page 13 in comparison with
5
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007