Application of Karl Ziegler, Heinz Breil, Erhard Holzkamp and Heinz Martin

ALMOND, Judge.

This is an appeal from the decision of the Patent Office Board of Appeals affirming the rejection of claims 1-8 in appellants’ application 1 entitled “Purification of Olefin Polymers.” No claim has been allowed.

Appellants’ invention relates to the purification of polyethylene, obtained by polymerization using a “Ziegler” catalyst, by washing with a C1-C4 alkanol. When polymerizing ethylene utilizing a “Ziegler” catalyst, a certain portion of the catalyst component may be retained in the polyethylene as an impurity. In accordance with the invention, this is washed out with the…