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 § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 5 and 7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 5 recites the limitation "the cylindrical reactor" in line 3 of the claim. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 1, from which claim 5 depends, does not recite a cylindrical reactor.
Claim 7 recites the limitation "the cylindrical reactor" in line 2 of the claim. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 1, from which claim 7 depends, does not recite a cylindrical reactor.
Allowable Subject Matter
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The instant claims are drawn to a hydroformylation reaction process comprising:
PNG
media_image1.png
584
642
media_image1.png
Greyscale
The closest prior art of record, Becker et al. (US 10,843,992) teach a hydroformylation reaction process, wherein an olefin, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide are contacted in the presence of a homogeneous catalyst, in a cylindrical reactor, wherein a total mixing energy of at least 0.5 kW/m3 is delivered to the fluid in the reactor; removing a portion of the reaction fluid from the reactor; and returning at least a portion of the removed reaction fluid to the reactor, wherein the returning reaction fluid is introduced in at least two return locations, wherein the return location are positioned above a location where hydrogen and carbon monoxide are introduced to the reactor, and wherein at least 15% of the mixing energy is provided by the returning reaction fluid (abstract). Becker et al. also teach that high velocity fluid can be used to form internal flows at the middle and bottom of the reactor in the form of directed liquid jets, and to impart momentum and shear into the reaction liquid to not only mix the reactor contents, but also to disperse synthesis gas bubbles produced by a conventional gas sparger (col. 2).
However, Becker et al. fail to teach or fairly suggest a step as claimed in the present invention, wherein after a portion of the reaction fluid is removed from the first reaction zone, a portion of the removed reaction fluid is passed though a high shear mixing apparatus to produce bubbles in the portion of the removed reaction fluid, and wherein a portion of hydrogen and carbon monoxide provided to the reactor is introduced through the high shear mixing apparatus.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SIKARL A WITHERSPOON whose telephone number is (571)272-0649. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9am-9pm IFP.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Scarlett Goon can be reached at 571-270-5241. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/SIKARL A WITHERSPOON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1692
Prosecution Insights