Appeal 2007-1368
Application 10/601,602
permselective polymer membrane separating an anode compartment and a
cathode compartment, and a catalytic, metal anode and a catalytic metal
cathode or a catalytic, metal anode and a gas-diffusion cathode.
34. An assembly for the continuous, cyclic production of an alkali
metal halate, comprising an electrolytic cell, a gas and liquid disengager for
a catholyte stream, and a gas and liquid disengager for an anolyte stream,
said electrolytic cell comprising a permselective polymer membrane
separating an anode compartment and a cathode compartment, a catalytic,
metal anode and a catalytic metal cathode or a catalytic, metal anode and a
gas-diffusion cathode.
The Examiner relies upon the following references in the rejection of
the appealed claims:
De Nora US 4,381,979 May 3, 1983
Sawamoto US 5,290,406 Mar. 1, 1994
Appellants' claimed invention is directed to an electrolytic cell for
producing an alkali metal halate. The cell comprises, inter alia, "a low alkali
metal ion transport efficiency permselective polymer membrane separating
an anode compartment and a cathode compartment" (claim 8), and "a
permselective polymer membrane separating an anode compartment and a
cathode compartment" (claim 34). According to Appellants, prior art cells
for producing an alkali metal halate do not include a separating membrane.
Appealed claims 8-17 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 112, first
paragraph, enablement requirement. Claim 34 stands rejected under
35 U.S.C. § 102(b) as being anticipated by Sawamoto. In addition, claim 35
stands rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being unpatentable over
Sawamoto in view of De Nora.
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