Prior art

To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 10933370, I will refer to the citations listed within the patent itself, as this is typically the most direct way to ascertain the prior art considered by the patent examiner.

According to 35 U.S.C. § 102, a patent claim is anticipated if every element of the claim is found, either explicitly or inherently described, in a single prior art reference that predates the effective filing date of the patent.

Below are the most relevant prior art references cited in US10933370B2, along with their publication/filing dates, a brief description, and which claims they potentially anticipate.

Cited US Patent References:

• U.S. Pat. No. 4,786,483

  • Publication Date: November 22, 1988 (Approximate, exact filing date not readily available from provided text, but publication date is critical for prior art analysis).
  • Description: This patent describes porous beds containing a mercury oxidizing reagent, specifically peroxomonosulfate, on a solid support for the removal of mercury from gas streams.
  • Potential Anticipation: This reference could potentially anticipate aspects of claims related to sorbent compositions and methods for mercury removal (e.g., Independent Claims 1, 12, 22) to the extent that it discloses a supported reagent for mercury oxidation. However, US10933370B2 specifically distinguishes itself by claiming a "halogen/halide promoted activated carbon" that forms a chemical compound with the carbon, and also highlights regenerability. The '483 patent's reagent material is noted as being "destroyed either by reaction with the flue gas during sorption or by attempts to regenerate the sorbent," suggesting a difference in regenerability that could differentiate US10933370's claims.

• U.S. Pat. No. 3,194,629

  • Publication Date: July 13, 1965 (Approximate, exact filing date not readily available from provided text).
  • Description: This patent is cited in the context of porous beds containing a mercury oxidizing reagent on a solid support, specifically mentioning triiodide or other mixed halogens, or sulfur, for mercury removal from gas streams.
  • Potential Anticipation: Similar to '483, this patent might anticipate broader aspects of sorbent compositions and mercury removal methods (e.g., Independent Claims 1, 12, 22). However, US10933370B2 emphasizes a reactive compound produced by the reaction of bromine (or halide or other halogen) with the carbon and notes that its sorbent is regenerable. The '629 patent's reagent material is also stated to be destroyed, indicating a potential distinction in regenerability. Furthermore, US10933370B2 notes that the sorbent it produces from halogen and activated carbon "does not represent a molecular halogen form, but rather a new chemically modified carbon (or halocarbon) structure," which may differentiate it from prior art involving molecular halogen complexes on a support.

• U.S. Pat. No. 3,662,523

  • Publication Date: May 16, 1972 (Approximate, exact filing date not readily available from provided text).
  • Description: This patent is also cited for porous beds containing a mercury oxidizing reagent on a solid support, specifically mentioning triiodide or other mixed halogens.
  • Potential Anticipation: Similar to '483 and '629, this could broadly anticipate claims related to mercury removal using supported halogen-based reagents (e.g., Independent Claims 1, 12, 22). The same distinctions regarding the chemical modification of the carbon structure and regenerability made for the '629 patent would likely apply here.

• U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,631

  • Publication Date: July 18, 1978 (Approximate, exact filing date not readily available from provided text).
  • Description: Cited for porous beds containing sulfur on a solid support for mercury removal.
  • Potential Anticipation: This could potentially anticipate aspects of claims (e.g., Independent Claims 1, 12) if they broadly cover sulfur-containing sorbents for mercury removal. However, US10933370B2 focuses on halogen/halide promoted activated carbon and describes a specific chemical reaction to form a reactive compound, which may differentiate it. Also, US10933370B2 mentions adding a "mercury-stabilizing reagent selected from the group consisting of S, Se, H2S, SO2, H2Se, SeO2, CS2, P2S5, and combinations thereof" as an additional component, implying that sulfur alone as the primary active component might be distinct from the core halogen/halide promoted carbon.

• U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,853

  • Publication Date: November 24, 1987 (Approximate, exact filing date not readily available from provided text).
  • Description: Also cited for porous beds containing sulfur on a solid support for mercury removal.
  • Potential Anticipation: Similar to '631, this could anticipate claims (e.g., Independent Claims 1, 12) related to sulfur-based sorbents. The same distinctions as for '631 would likely apply.

• U.S. Pat. No. 4,814,152 (Yan)

  • Publication Date: March 21, 1989 (Approximate, exact filing date not readily available from provided text).
  • Description: Describes a Hg sorbent comprising elemental sulfur and a metal catalyst on a carbon support. The patent explicitly notes that "This method did not appear to employ a halide."
  • Potential Anticipation: This patent might anticipate aspects of claims (e.g., Independent Claims 1, 12) if the claims are interpreted broadly to include carbon-supported sorbents for mercury. However, the explicit mention that Yan "did not appear to employ a halide" is a key differentiator, as US10933370B2's Independent Claim 1 and 12 specifically define a "promoted carbon sorbent" where the promoter is a "halogen, halide, or combinations thereof." This distinction could be crucial in overcoming anticipation.

• U.S. Pat. No. 5,891,324

  • Publication Date: April 6, 1999 (Approximate, exact filing date not readily available from provided text).
  • Description: Describes an activated carbon containing an acid (HCl, H2SO4, or H3PO4) for the removal of mercury from a liquid phase. US10933370B2 notes that this "Nelson method lacks many of the features described in this application that impart exceptional activity to the sorbent in a convenient way, for example, the addition of smaller amount of a second more powerful promoting agent, the use of facile solvent systems, including aqueous bromine, and the use of in-flight bromine treatment."
  • Potential Anticipation: This patent might anticipate certain elements related to using activated carbon for mercury removal. However, the claimed invention of US10933370B2 focuses on gas phase mercury removal and a specific "halogen/halide promoted activated carbon" formed by a reaction with the carbon, which is distinct from an acid-treated carbon for liquid phase removal. The claimed in-flight preparation (Claim 24), use of secondary components, and regenerability in US10933370B2 also serve as distinctions from the '324 patent.

• U.S. Pat. No. 6,136,072

  • Publication Date: October 17, 2000 (Approximate, exact filing date not readily available from provided text).
  • Description: Describes amalgamating noble metals (gold, silver) on a suitable support for mercury capture, which can be regenerated by microwave heating. US10933370B2 states these are "expensive and not especially active for sorption in flue gas."
  • Potential Anticipation: This could broadly anticipate claims regarding regenerable sorbents for mercury (e.g., Independent Claim 22, 27). However, the specific composition of the sorbent in US10933370B2 (halogen/halide promoted activated carbon) is fundamentally different from noble metal amalgams. The cost-effectiveness and high reactivity without in-situ activation claimed by US10933370B2 also differentiate it.

• U.S. Pat. No. 6,214,304

  • Publication Date: April 10, 2001 (Approximate, exact filing date not readily available from provided text).
  • Description: Mentions sodium sulfide particles as fine-particle injection sorbents for mercury removal.
  • Potential Anticipation: This could potentially anticipate aspects of Independent Claim 22 and 27 concerning injecting fine-particle sorbents for mercury removal. However, US10933370B2 focuses on halogen/halide promoted activated carbon as the sorbent, distinguishing it from sodium sulfide particles. The '304 patent's sulfide particles are also noted as "effective only for the oxidized mercury," whereas US10933370B2 claims high initial reactivity for oxidizing mercury and is especially suited for low-chlorine flue gases where mercury is mainly elemental.

• U.S. Pat. No. 6,258,334

  • Publication Date: July 10, 2001 (Approximate, exact filing date not readily available from provided text).
  • Description: Also cited for porous beds containing sulfur on a solid support for mercury removal.
  • Potential Anticipation: Similar to '631 and '853, this could anticipate claims (e.g., Independent Claims 1, 12) related to sulfur-based sorbents. The same distinctions as for '631 would likely apply.

Cited Foreign Patent References:

• Japanese Patent JP 49-43197

  • Publication Date: Not explicitly provided in the patent text, but typical for Japanese patents of that era would be sometime in 1974.
  • Description: Describes the treatment of Hg-contaminated electrolysis cell gas using a metal iodide salt on a support. US10933370B2 states, "These patents do not appear to represent a carbon bromide compound as specified in this patent application."
  • Potential Anticipation: This patent might anticipate broader concepts of supported sorbents for mercury removal. However, US10933370B2 specifically claims a "promoted carbon sorbent" where the promoter is a halogen or halide, particularly emphasizing a reactive compound produced by the reaction of bromine with the carbon. The explicit distinction in US10933370B2 that this reference does not represent a "carbon bromide compound" is key to arguing non-anticipation for Independent Claim 1 and 12.

• Japanese Patent JP 50-6438

  • Publication Date: Not explicitly provided in the patent text, but typical for Japanese patents of that era would be sometime in 1975.
  • Description: Describes a similar treatment to JP 49-43197, using a resin impregnated with a metal iodide.
  • Potential Anticipation: Similar to JP 49-43197, this could broadly anticipate concepts of impregnated materials for mercury removal. The same distinction regarding the lack of a "carbon bromide compound" in these references, as noted in US10933370B2, would apply, differentiating it from Independent Claims 1 and 12.

• German Patent DE 34 26 059

  • Publication Date: Not explicitly provided in the patent text, but would be after the priority date of 1984.
  • Description: Describes the use of a very thick carbon bed for treatment of flue gases containing polyhalogenated compounds. It's noted that "Spent sorbent is burned and not regenerated. The carbons are not pretreated."
  • Potential Anticipation: This could anticipate broader uses of carbon beds for flue gas treatment (e.g., Independent Claim 22). However, US10933370B2 emphasizes pretreated, regenerable halogen/halide promoted carbon sorbents with high initial reactivity. The fact that the carbons in DE 34 26 059 are "not pretreated" and "not regenerated" provides a clear distinction from the core inventive features of US10933370B2, particularly Independent Claims 1, 12, 22, and 27.