DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 5 and 7-10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Hunsinger et al. (KR 20100061812 A, machine translation provided).
Regarding claim 5, Hunsinger et al. discloses an exhaust gas treatment facility, comprising: a detoxifying apparatus for detoxification-treating an exhaust gas (crude gas, 16); and a water-feeding line (cycle, 20) configured to supply water to the detoxifying apparatus, wherein a chemical agent-adding apparatus configured to add choline and/or ammonia (10) into water (20) to be supplied to the water-feeding line (20) is provided, wherein the chemical agent-adding apparatus adds choline and/or ammonia, and also hydrogen peroxide into the water, through pipe (12) (see Abstract; figure 1; and description of embodiments).
Regarding claim 7, Hunsinger et al. discloses a facility wherein a scrubber (tower equipped with a packing (14)) is provided on a downstream side of the detoxifying apparatus, and the chemical agent-adding apparatus for adding choline and/or ammonia (pipe, 10) into water (cycle, 20) for the scrubber is provided (see Abstract; figure 1; and description of embodiments).
Regarding claim 8, Hunsinger et al. discloses a facility wherein choline and/or ammonia and
also hydrogen peroxide are added into water for the scrubber (see Abstract; figure 1; and description of embodiments), since the use of the apparatus isn't limiting or the material the apparatus acts upon isn't limiting.
Regarding claim 9, Hunsinger et al. discloses a facility wherein the chemical agent-adding apparatus adds, as a chemical agent, a solution used in a semiconductor production process or a drainage water of a semiconductor production process (see Abstract; figure 1; and description of embodiments), since the use of the apparatus isn't limiting or the material the apparatus acts upon isn't limiting.
Regarding claim 10, Hunsinger et al. discloses a facility wherein the exhaust gas is an exhaust gas from a semiconductor production process (see Abstract; figure 1; and description of embodiments), since the use of the apparatus isn't limiting or the material the apparatus acts upon isn't limiting.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see Remarks, filed July 1, 2026, with respect to the rejection(s) of claim(s) 5 and 7-10 under U.S.C. 102 have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made in view of Hunsinger et al. (KR 20100061812 A, machine translation provided).
Applicant’s arguments with respect to the objection of claim 7 have been fully considered and are persuasive. The objection of claim 7 has been withdrawn.
Conclusion
Applicant's submission of an information disclosure statement under 37 CFR 1.97(c) with the timing fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(p) on July 1, 2026 prompted the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 609.04(b). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NATASHA E YOUNG whose telephone number is (571)270-3163. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7:00 am - 6:00 pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Wang Claire can be reached at 571-270-1051. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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NATASHA E. YOUNG
Examiner
Art Unit 1774
/NATASHA E YOUNG/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1774
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