Appeal No 2007-0310
Application No 10/260,498
cyanide-catalyzed polyols . . . compris[ing] blending a first polyol that
contains an active double metal cyanide (DMC) catalyst with a second
polyol that contains a basic catalyst,” and reacting the polyol blend with
ethylene oxide (Pazos, col. 2, ll. 23-29). “When the polyols are blended
together, some of the basic catalyst in the second polyol deactivates the
DMC catalyst in the first polyol. The rest of the basic catalyst is available
for catalyzing ethoxylation of the polyol blend.” (Id. at col. 4, ll. 5-8.)
In addition, Pazos discloses that “it is preferred to use from about 10
to about 90 wt. % of the first polyol and from about 10 to about 90 wt. % of
the second polyol in the blend” (id. at col. 3, l. 66, to col. 4, l. 2); that the
basic catalyst “is present in the polyol blend in an amount within the range
of about 0.05 to about 2 wt. %” (id. at col. 4, ll. 8-10); and that the
ethoxylation “reaction temperature is typically within the range of about
50° C. to about 220° C.” (id. at col. 4, ll. 37-39).
Finally, Pazos discloses that:
Following ethoxylation, the EO-capped product is typically
purified to remove catalyst residues. Any suitable means for
purifying the polyol can be used, including treatment with an
ion-exchange resin, [etc.] . . . Suitable methods for purifying the
EO-capped polyols are described, for example, in U.S. Pat.
Nos. . . . 4,355,188 [Herold], the teachings of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
(Id. at col. 4, ll. 42-51.)
Doerge and Nagata are discussed above. We agree with the Examiner
that one of ordinary skill in the art would have found it obvious to combine
one of the acids taught by Doerge or Nagata, which do not react with a basic
catalyst to form a precipitate, with Pazos’ process for making EO-capped
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