Nalco Co. v. Chem-Mod, LLC

Nalco’s patent, titled “Enhanced Mercury Control in Coal-Fired Power Plants,” describes a method for the removal of elemental mercury, a toxic pollutant, from the flue gas created by combustion in coal-fired power plants. Previous attempts to filter mercury from coal combustion flue gas failed due to lack of commercial viability or excessive expense. The 692 patent solves this problem by reacting halogens, such as molecular chlorine (Cl2) or molecular bromine (Br2), with elemental mercury (Hg) in flue gas to form mercuric halides (HgCl2 or HgBr2), which precipitate into solid particles that can be filtered from the flue gas more easily. The Federal Circuit reversed the dismissal of Nalco’s direct infringement, doctrine of equivalents, indirect, and willful infringement claims. View "Nalco Co. v. Chem-Mod, LLC" on Justia Law