Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026
Application No. 18/994,117

METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING COMBUSTION AID FOR ADDITION BEFORE FOSSIL FUEL COMBUSTION AND DESULFURIZATION CATALYST

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Jan 14, 2025
Priority
Jul 20, 2022 — RE 10-2022-0089271 +1 more
Examiner
MANLEY, SHERMAN D
Art Unit
3747
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Won Bang Hong
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
84%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
9m
Est. Remaining
96%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 84% — above average
84%
Career Allowance Rate
498 granted / 593 resolved
+14.0% vs TC avg
Moderate +12% lift
Without
With
+11.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 6m
Avg Prosecution
14 currently pending
Career history
622
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
5.7%
-34.3% vs TC avg
§103
35.0%
-5.0% vs TC avg
§102
37.7%
-2.3% vs TC avg
§112
16.2%
-23.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 593 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
DETAILED ACTION This Non-Final Office Action is in response to the claims field on 1/14/2025. Claims 1-7 are currently pending. 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) 1-7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Lee (US 2019/0085254). As to claim 1 Lee discloses a method for manufacturing a combustion aid added before fossil fuel combustion and a desulfurization catalyst (paragraph 0002), the method comprising: (S10) introducing an illite powder (paragraph 0037) into a reaction tank storing water heated to 40°C to 100°C, followed by stirring (paragraph 0070); (S20) introducing sodium hydroxide (paragraph 0056) into the reaction tank, followed by stirring (paragraph 0070); (S30) preparing a desulfurization catalyst by separating and filtering a supernatant in the reaction tank (Paragraph 0071); and (S40) preparing a combustion aid (paragraph 0047) by separating a precipitate from the reaction tank (paragraph 0071 and 0073). As to claim 2 Lee discloses the of claim 1, wherein step S20 includes adding sodium tetraborate to the reaction tank (paragraph 0043). As to claim 3 Lee discloses the method of claim 2, wherein step S20 includes adding water glass (sodium silicate (Na.sub.2SiO.sub.3)) to the reaction tank (paragraph 0011 as a catalyst for desulfurization). As to claim 4 Lee discloses the method of claim 3, wherein step S20 includes adding hydrogen peroxide to the reaction tank (paragraph 0035). As to claim 5 Lee discloses the method of claim 1, wherein step S40 includes mixing an additive including a surfactant and an oxyacid into the combustion aid (paragraph 0053). As to claim 6 Lee discloses the method of claim 5, wherein step S40 includes mixing precipitated carbonate (CaO) into the combustion aid. (paragraph 0050) As to claim 7 Lee discloses the method of claim 1, wherein step S30 includes adding hydroxylpropyl methyl cellulose-based powder to a desulfurization catalyst. (paragraph 0048) Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SHERMAN D MANLEY whose telephone number is (571)270-5539. The examiner can normally be reached M-TH 7-5:30 est. 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, Logan Kraft can be reached at 571-270-5065. 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. SHERMAN D. MANLEY Examiner Art Unit 3747 /SHERMAN D MANLEY/Examiner, Art Unit 3747 /LOGAN M KRAFT/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3747
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jan 14, 2025
Application Filed
Jul 13, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
84%
Grant Probability
96%
With Interview (+11.7%)
2y 6m (~9m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 593 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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