Which datasets are to be provided along-with patent application?

Question

I am trying to patent a catalytic process (and probably the catalyst too), which I may also publish later as a research paper. However, I currently only have the reaction results - which might prove the superiority of the catalytic process. . However, the characterization results of the catalyst are still pending.

My question is, do I need to submit the characterization data of the catalyst too during the patent application or patent examination process? Also, what type of datasets are required to prove the validity of a patent claim. If I am claiming that my catalytic process can lead to production of a specific product-do I need to submit appropriate datasets (e.g. GCMS or NMR etc) ?

I have very little idea about patent application and examination process, thus don't know how patent applications are evaluated.

Answer 1

I am not a lawyer or a chemist, so this answer is written from the viewpoint of an inventor. You do not need extensive data sets to file a patent. Indeed I pretty much never see them. It is useful to provide plots or graphs of data supporting the function of the invention, but I doubt a patent examiner would know what to do with a data file let alone require it. Characterization data might be useful to your patent attorney when crafting claims to make sure they cover the most important ranges.