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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Group I, Claims 1-7 in the reply filed on November 11, 2025 is acknowledged.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim(s) 1-7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Luo et al. (CN-114870588A) in view of Zhang et al. (CN-114870600 A).
Regarding Claim 1, Luo et al. reference discloses an apparatus for producing ammonium bicarbonate in an ammonia-based decarbonization system, the apparatus comprising:
a cooling function zone operable to cool process gas (Figures 1 and 2, numerals 1 – process gas, 2 – decarburization cooling tower);
a decarbonization absorption tower (Figures 1 and 2, numeral 7), and
an ammonia removal function zone operable to remove ammonia from decarbonized process gas (Figures 1 and 2, numeral 12 – ammonia escape control system);
However, Luo et al. does not disclose that the decarbonization absorption tower having an ammonium bicarbonate generation zone operable to generate ammonium bicarbonate and a carbon dioxide absorption zone operable to absorb, via multi-stage absorption, carbon dioxide from process gas, wherein the carbon dioxide absorption zone applies absorbent ammonia to process gas for carbon dioxide removal. Zhang et al. reference discloses a device for high-efficient ammonia decarburization, wherein the device comprises a pressurizing device, a decarburization device and an ammonia removing device, wherein the decarburization device is provided with a bubbling unit and a solution circulation spraying unit wherein the process gas containing carbon dioxide enters the decarburization device through the pressurizing device, the ammonia is used as the absorbent to remove CO2 from the gas to produce ammonium hydrogen carbonate (Abstract and Figure 1, numerals 1 – process gas, 17 – ammonia, 5 – carbon ammonium generating area, 7 – first-stage decarburization absorption area, 9 – second-stage decarburization area, 12 – carbon ammonium discharging pump, and 4-ammonium bicarbonate processing device). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to use the decarbonization absorption tower as taught by Zhang et al., since Zhang et al. states at Abstract that such a modification would increase the ammonium salt solution and the flue gas contact strengthening conversion reaction, improve the decarburization efficiency.
Regarding Claim 2, Luo et al. and Zhang et al. reference discloses the apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ammonium bicarbonate generation zone applies less ammonia to process gas than one or more stages with the multi- stage absorption zone (Zhang et al. – Figure 1, numerals 17 – ammonia applied to 7, 9 - first-stage and second-stage decarburization absorption areas).
Regarding Claim 3, Luo et al. and Zhang et al. reference discloses the apparatus of claim 1 wherein a first-stage within the carbon dioxide absorption zone, said first-stage being subsequent to the ammonium bicarbonate generation zone, applies less ammonia than an immediate next stage to process gas (Zhang et al. – Figure 1, numerals 5, 7, and 9 and also, these are process limitation and does not add additional structure to the decarburization absorption tower of Zhang et al.).
Regarding Claim 4, Luo et al. and Zhang et al. reference discloses the apparatus of claim 1, wherein a last-stage decarbonization absorption circulating liquid applies less ammonia to process gas than a previous stage within the carbon dioxide absorption zone (process limitation and does not add additional structure to the decarburization absorption tower of Zhang et al.).
Regarding Claim 5, Luo et al. and Zhang et al. reference discloses the apparatus of claim 1 wherein a first-stage within the carbon dioxide absorption zone, said first-stage being subsequent to the ammonium bicarbonate generation zone, applies less than 20% of the total ammonia applied to process gas (process limitation and does not add additional structure to the decarburization absorption tower of Zhang et al.)..
Regarding Claim 6, Luo et al. and Zhang et al. reference discloses the apparatus of claim 1wherein: solid ammonium bicarbonate is produced from the ammonium bicarbonate generated in the ammonium bicarbonate generation zone by a post-treatment system (Zhang et al. – Figure 1, numerals 12 and 4); and
ammonium bicarbonate mother liquid is returned to a first-stage within the carbon dioxide absorption zone, said first-stage being subsequent to the ammonium bicarbonate generation zone (Zhang et al. – Figure 1, numerals 6 - carbon ammonium generating area circulating pump and 14 - circulating spraying unit).
Regarding Claim 7, Luo et al. and Zhang et al. reference discloses the apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cooling function zone, the ammonium bicarbonate generation zone, the carbon dioxide absorption zone, and the ammonia removal function zone are combined in one or more towers, equipment/components being disposed between the function zones to allow the passage of gas (Luo et al – Figures 1 and 2, numerals 2, 7, and 12).
Conclusion
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/HUY TRAM NGUYEN/Examiner, Art Unit 1774