Patent number 376406 has been granted to NALCO COMPANY that is titled CHEMICAL TREATMENT TO IMPROVE RED MUD SEPARATION AND WASHING IN THE BAYER PROCESS. The patent applicant responded to this objection by stating that the claimed process for preparing a composition defines novel and non-obvious technical features and therefore cannot be considered as a mere use of a “known” process as disclosed in the cited references. Therefore, the present invention does not fall under section 3(d) of the Patents Act. This patent falls under the category of Chemical. Overall, this patent covers an invention that provides methods and compositions for improving the rheology of red mud removed from Bayer Process liquor.