Appeal No. 2006-2485 Page 11
Application No. 10/925,646
3. Veldman
The examiner has rejected claims 1, 7-10, 22, and 23 under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b)
as anticipated by Veldman.2 The examiner states that Veldman “teach[es] a method of
reducing iron in hydrocarbon streams by contacting with a mixture of oxygen
scavengers comprising a mixture of quinone and hydroxylamine. In reference to a
closed loop system, Veldman teaches cleaning piping of stainless steel equipment.”
Examiner’s Answer, page 4. The examiner also notes that “Example 1 [of Veldman]
(col. 6-7 bridging) teaches treating a plant [with] the claimed composition and
decreasing the amount of iron and corrosion as a result of treatment. Col. 7, lines 1-10,
teaches that the plant, prior to treatment, has an increasing amount of total iron
concentration. After treatment with the claimed composition, corrosion was reduced
and the iron content decreased.” Examiner’s Answer, page 8. The examiner reasons
that “the [claim] limitations are inherently met since Veldman is performing the same
steps using the same composition, as the instantly claimed invention.” Id.
We conclude that the examiner has presented a prima facie case that Veldman
anticipates claim 1. Veldman describes “a method of inhibiting corrosion in gas or light
hydrocarbon treating systems . . . by adding to the treating solution a mixture of oxygen
scavengers from 0.001 to 50,000 ppm comprised of mixtures of a quinone and
hydroxylamines” of a particular formula. Col. 2, line 65, to col. 3, line 4. The preferred
hydroxylamines include diethylhydroxylamine. Col. 3, lines 13-18. “The oxygen
scavengers can advantageously be mixed in deionized water. The resulting aqueous
solution is preferably added to [the] treating solution in a concentration of 0.0001-50,000
2 Veldman et al., U.S. Patent No. 6,059,992, issued May 9, 2000.
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