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 3-9, 15-17, and 19 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. The claims are rejected for the following reasons.
Claims 3-9 are indefinite because the claims depend on cancelled claim 2.
Claims 15-17 and 19 are indefinite because the claims depend on cancelled claim 14.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
Claims 1, 6, 8-12, 18, and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Chinta et al. (US 2021/0387934 A1).
Regarding claim 1, the reference Chinta et al. discloses a system for producing methanol (see para. [0020]; Figure), which comprises:
a methanol reactor (200) for producing a methanol reactor output stream (30) (see para. [0087]), the methanol reactor (200) comprising syngas from a syngas stream (15) (see para. [0080]), hydrogen from a hydrogen stream (e.g., a supplemental hydrogen stream) (see para. [0083]) and carbon dioxide from a recycled carbon dioxide stream (13) (see para. [0098]);
a separator (300) for separating the methanol reactor output stream (30) into a vapor stream (50) and a liquid stream (40) (see para. [0091]);
a distillation column (400) for separating the liquid stream (40) into a methanol product stream (45) and a water stream (46) (see para. [0094]);
a hydrogen separation unit (500) for separating the vapor stream (50) into another hydrogen stream (51) and a carbon dioxide off gas stream (52) (see para. [0096]; Figure); and
an amine absorption unit (600) for producing the recycled carbon dioxide stream (13) and a tail gas stream (60), the amine absorption unit (600) comprising carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide off gas stream (52) and post-combustion carbon dioxide from a carbon dioxide effluent stream (15) (see paras. [0023]; [0099]; Figure).
Regarding claim 6, the reference Chinta et al. discloses the system, wherein the methanol reactor output stream (30) is in direct fluid communication with the separator (300) (see para. [0091]).
Regarding claim 8, the reference Chinta et al. discloses the system, wherein the vapor stream comprises a mixture of unreacted syngas, methane, and CO₂ (and uncondensed methanol vapor and water vapor depending on the prevailing operating conditions in the separator 300) ([0091]).
Regarding claim 9, the reference Chinta et al. discloses the system, wherein the liquid stream comprises a mixture of methanol and water (see para. [0092]).
Regarding claim 10, the reference Chinta et al. discloses the system, wherein the methanol reactor output stream (30) comprises syngas from the syngas stream (15), carbon dioxide from the recycled carbon dioxide stream (13), water, and methanol (see para. [0104]; Figure).
Regarding claim 11, the reference Chinta et al. discloses a method for producing methanol (see Abstract), which comprises:
introducing a syngas stream (15) (see para. [0080]), a hydrogen stream (e.g., a supplemental hydrogen stream) (see para. [0083]) and a recycled carbon dioxide stream (13) into a methanol reactor (200) for producing a methanol reactor output stream (30) (see para. [0104]; Figure);
separating the methanol reactor output stream (30) into a vapor stream (50) and a liquid stream (40) (see para. [0091]);
separating the liquid stream (40) into a methanol product stream (45) and a water stream (46) (see para. [0094]);
separating the vapor stream (50) into another hydrogen stream (51) and a carbon dioxide off gas stream (52) by a hydrogen separation unit (500) (see para. [0096]) and the recycled carbon dioxide stream (13) and the tail gas stream (60) are produced by an amine absorption unit (600) comprising carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide off gas stream (52) and post-combustion carbon dioxide from a carbon dioxide effluent stream (15) (see para. [0023]; Figure); and
producing the recycled carbon dioxide stream (13) and a tail gas stream (60) (see para. [0099]; Figure).
Regarding claim 12, the reference Chinta et al. discloses the method, wherein the liquid stream (40) is separated into the methanol product stream (45) and the water stream (46) by a distillation column (400) (see para. [0094]).
Regarding claim 18, the reference Chinta et al. discloses the method, wherein the methanol reactor output stream (30) is in direct fluid communication with a separator (300) (see para, [0091]).
Regarding claim 20, the reference Chinta et al. discloses the method, wherein the methanol reactor output stream (30) comprises syngas from the syngas stream (15), carbon dioxide from the recycled carbon dioxide stream (13), water, and methanol (see para. [0104]).
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.
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.
Claims 3 and 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chinta et al. as applied to claims 1 and 11 above, and further in view of Meyer-Pittroff (US 2012/0226080 A1).
Regarding claims 3 and 15, the reference Chinta et al. does not specifically disclose an autothermal reactor for producing the carbon dioxide effluent stream and the syngas stream, the autothermal reactor comprising a natural gas feed from a feed stream and oxygen from an oxygen stream: and an electrolyzer for producing the oxygen stream and the hydrogen stream, the electrolyzer comprising demineralized water from a water stream.
The reference Meyer-Pittroff teaches a system for producing methanol comprising: a methanol reactor for producing methanol from a syngas or reaction between carbon dioxide and hydrogen (see paras. [0014]; [0052]-[0055]; Fig. 3); an autothermal reactor for producing syngas which may be supplied to the methanol reactor (see paras. [0014]; [0026]); and an electrolyzer (105) for producing an oxygen stream, which may be supplied to the autothermal reactor, and a hydrogen stream, which may be supplied to the methanol reactor (see Fig. 3).
Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system and method of Chinta et al. to include an autothermal reactor to produce syngas needed for methanol synthesis in the methanol reactor of Chinta et al. and further include an electrolyzer for supplying oxygen needed for the autothermal reactor and hydrogen needed for methanol synthesis in the methanol reactor so as to produce methanol from renewable energy resources as suggested by Meyer-Pittroff (see paras, [0070]-[0074]).
Claims 4, 5, 7, 16, 17, and 19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chinta et al. as applied to claims 1 and 11 above, and further in view of Rising (US 2009/0289227 A1).
Regarding claims 4 and 16, the reference Chinta et al. does not specifically disclose a steam methane reformer for producing the carbon dioxide effluent stream and the syngas stream, the steam methane reformer comprising a natural gas, naphtha or liquified petroleum gas feed from a feed stream and steam from a steam stream; and an electrolyzer for producing the hydrogen stream, the electrolyzer comprising demineralized water from a water stream.
The reference Rising teaches a system for producing methanol from syngas or hydrogen produced using a renewable energy resource and carbon dioxide recovered from carbon dioxide containing waste stream (see paras. [0001]: [0010]: [0028]-[0029]; [0040]: [0041]: Fig. 6). The reference Rising teaches that the system includes a methanol reactor for converting syngas or hydrogen and carbon dioxide to methanol (see paras. [0040]; [0041]; Fig. 6); a steam methane reformer for producing the syngas (see paras. [0035]-[0036]); and an electrolyzer for producing a hydrogen stream which may be supplied to the methanol reactor (see paras. [001]]-[0013]).
Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system and method of Chinta et al. to include a steam methane reformer to produce syngas needed for methanol synthesis in the methanol reactor of Chinta et al. and further include an electrolyzer for supplying hydrogen needed for methanol synthesis in the methanol reactor so as to produce methanol from renewable energy resources as suggested by Rising (see paras. [0001]; [0040]-[0041]; Fig. 6).
Regarding claims 5 and 17, the reference Chinta et al. does not specifically disclose a gasifier for producing the carbon dioxide effluent stream and the syngas stream; and an electrolyzer for producing the oxygen stream and the hydrogen stream.
The reference Rising teaches a system for producing methanol from syngas or hydrogen produced using a renewable energy resource and carbon dioxide recovered from carbon dioxide containing waste stream (see paras. [0001]; [0010]; [0028]-[0030]; Fig. 2). The reference Rising teaches that the system includes a methanol reactor for converting syngas or hydrogen and carbon dioxide to methanol (see paras. [0028]-[0030]; Fig. 2); a gasifier for producing the syngas (see paras. [0029]-[0030]); and an electrolyzer for producing an oxygen stream, which may be supplied to the gasifier, and a hydrogen stream, which may be supplied to the methanol reactor (see Fig. 2).
Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system and method of Chinta et al. to include a gasifier to produce syngas needed for methanol synthesis in the methanol reactor of Chinta et al. and further include an electrolyzer for supplying oxygen needed in the gasifier and hydrogen needed for methanol synthesis in the methanol reactor so as to produce methanol from renewable energy resources as suggested by Rising (see paras. [0001]; [0028]-[0030]; Fig. 2).
Regarding claims 7 and 19, the reference Chinta et al. does not specifically suggest having the recycled carbon dioxide stream from the amine absorption unit in direct fluid communication with the methanol reactor. However, the reference Rising teaches that carbon dioxide recovered from carbon dioxide containing waste stream may suitably be supplied to a methanol reactor for producing methanol (see paras. [0001]; [0010]-[0011]; [0019]-[0020]; Fig. 1).
Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to similarly have the recycled carbon dioxide stream from the amine absorption unit in direct fluid communication with the methanol reactor in the system and method of Chinta et al., since the reference Rising suggests directing carbon dioxide recovered from carbon dioxide containing waste stream to a methanol reactor for producing methanol (see paras. [0001]; [0010]-[0011];[0019]-[0020]; Fig. 1).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Lessanework T Seifu whose telephone number is (571)270-3153. The examiner can normally be reached M-T 9:00 am - 6:30 pm; F 9:00 am - 1:00 pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Claire Wang 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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/LESSANEWORK SEIFU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1774
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