Appeal 2007-2486
Application 10/429,369
8. A process for removing nitrogen-containing compounds present in
a fossil fuel, the process comprising the steps
a) providing a liquid fossil fuel, said fossil fuel containing
nitrogen-containing organic compounds;
b) effectuating the oxidation of said nitrogen-containing
compounds by subjecting said fossil fuel to an ultrasonic energy; and
c) subjecting said fossil fuel produced in step b) to
hydrodesulfurization such that a majority of the oxidized nitrogen-
containing compounds of step b) are converted to ammonia.
11. A process for removing nitrogen-containing compounds present
in crude oil, the process comprising the steps:
a) providing a source of crude oil containing nitrogen-
containing organic compounds;
b) subjecting said crude oil in step a) to an ultrasonic energy in
the absence of an oxidizing agent and forming a fossil fuel with
oxidized nitrogen-containing compounds;
c) subjecting said fossil fuel produced in step b) to
hydrodesulfurization to convert said oxidized nitrogen-containing
compounds to ammonia; and
d) removing said ammonia produced in step c).
The Examiner relies on the following prior art references as evidence
of unpatentability:
Sorgenti US 3,816,301 June 11, 1974
Meyer US 5,110,452 May 5, 1992
Gunnerman US 6,500,219 B1 Dec. 31, 2002
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