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 and 19-20 in the reply filed on February 4, 2026 is acknowledged.
Specification
The specification has not been checked to the extent necessary to determine the presence of all possible minor errors. Applicant’s cooperation is requested in correcting any errors of which applicant may become aware in the specification.
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 1-7 and 19-20 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.
Claims 1 and 19 are directed to a process for production of a liquid fuel. In steps (a)-(d) this objective is obtained. However, it is not clear how or why step (e) is needed as it adds nothing to the production steps of (a)-(d). Clarification and/or correction are required.
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. US 20170260458 (Fang) is cited for teaching a method for making fuel from synthesis gas which comprises: (a) passing the synthesis gas through a first reactor to convert synthesis gas to methanol and water, which produces the first exit stream; (b) passing the first exit stream through a second reactor to convert methanol to dimethylether, which produces a second exit stream; (c) passing the second exit stream through a third reactor containing a third catalyst for converting methanol and dimethylether to fuel and heavy gasoline, and a fourth catalyst for converting the heavy gasoline to, isoparaffins, naphthenes, and less substituted aromatics, which produces a third exit stream; and (d) recycling the unreacted synthesis gas in the third exit stream, where no removal or separation of the first, second, or third exit streams are effected during the process.
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/CEPHIA D TOOMER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1771 18653881/20260316