Appeal 2007-2187
Application 10/148,793
Claim 11 is illustrative of the invention and is reproduced below:
11. A process for the preparation of a lactic acid ester composition
from a lactic acid composition, comprising:
a) a stage of conversion, with removal of water, of said lactic acid
composition into a lactic acid oligomeric composition exhibiting a mean
degree of polymerization (MDP) of between 3 and 30,
b) a subsequent stage of mixing and of reaction of said oligomeric
composition which is purified or unpurified with an alcohol, in the presence
of a transesterification catalyst, for the purpose of esterifying all or a portion
of the lactic acid present, in a monomeric, dimeric, oligomeric or polymeric
form, in said oligomeric composition, and
c) an optional stage of purification of the lactic acid ester composition
thus obtained.
The Examiner relies on the following prior art references to show
unpatentability:
Taniyama JP 8-040983 Feb. 13, 1996
Okada JP 6-065230 Mar. 1998
The Examiner made the following rejection1:
Claims 11-25 and 28 under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) as anticipated by
Taniyama, as evidenced by Okada.
ISSUE
Appellants concede that Taniyama discloses a process for preparation
of a lactic acid ester composition. However, Appellants contend that
1 The Examiner has withdrawn the rejection of claims 11-25 and 28
under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as unpatentable over Taniyama, as evidenced by
Okada, in view of Verser. Answer 3.
2
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next
Last modified: September 9, 2013