C
SECTION C — CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
 C

Note(s)

  1. In section C, the definitions of groups of chemical elements are as follows:

    Alkali metals: Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Fr

    Alkaline earth metals: Ca, Sr, Ba, Ra

    Lanthanides: elements with atomic numbers 57 to 71 inclusive

    Rare earths: Sc, Y, Lanthanides

    Actinides: elements with atomic numbers 89 to 103 inclusive

    Refractory metals: Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta, W

    Halogens: F, Cl, Br, I, At

    Noble gases: He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, Rn

    Platinum group: Os, Ir, Pt, Ru, Rh, Pd

    Noble metals: Ag, Au, Platinum group

    Light metals: alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, Be, Al, Mg

    Heavy metals: metals other than light metals

    Iron group: Fe, Co, Ni

    Non-metals: H, B, C, Si, N, P, O, S, Se, Te, noble gases, halogens

    Metals: elements other than non-metals

    Transition elements: elements with atomic numbers 21 to 30 inclusive, 39 to 48 inclusive, 57 to 80 inclusive, 89 upwards

  2. Section C covers :
    1. pure chemistry, which covers inorganic compounds, organic compounds, macromolecular compounds, and their methods of preparation;
    2. applied chemistry, which covers compositions containing the above compounds, such as: glass, ceramics, fertilisers, plastics compositions, paints, products of the petroleum industry. It also covers certain compositions on account of their having particular properties rendering them suitable for certain purposes, as in the case of explosives, dyestuffs, adhesives, lubricants, and detergents;
    3. certain marginal industries, such as the manufacture of coke and of solid or gaseous fuels, the production and refining of oils, fats and waxes, the fermentation industry (e.g., brewing and wine-making), the sugar industry;
    4. certain operations or treatments, which are either purely mechanical, e.g., the mechanical treatment of leather and skins, or partly mechanical, e.g., the treatment of water or the prevention of corrosion in general;
    5. metallurgy, ferrous or non-ferrous alloys.
  3. In all sections of the IPC, in the absence of an indication to the contrary, the Periodic System of chemical elements referred to is the one with 8 groups as represented in the table below. For example, group C07F 3/00 "Compounds containing elements of the 2nd Group of the Periodic System" refers to the elements of columns IIa and IIb. [2009.01]

    1. In the case of operations, treatments, products or articles having both a chemical and a non-chemical part or aspect, the general rule is that the chemical part or aspect is covered by section C.
    2. In some of these cases, the chemical part or aspect brings with it a non-chemical one, even though purely mechanical, because this latter aspect either is essential to the operation or treatment or constitutes an important element thereof. It has seemed, in fact, more logical not to dissociate the different parts or aspects of a coherent whole. This is the case for applied chemistry and for the industries, operations and treatments mentioned in Notes (1)(c), (d) and (e). For example, furnaces peculiar to the manufacture of glass are covered by class C03 and not by class F27.
    3. There are, however, some exceptions in which the mechanical (or non-chemical) aspect carries with it the chemical aspect, for example:
    4. In still other cases, the pure chemical aspect is covered by section C and the applied chemical aspect by another section, such as A, B or F, e.g., the use of a substance or composition for:
    5. When the chemical and mechanical aspects are so closely interlocked that a neat and simple division is not possible, or when certain mechanical processes follow as a natural or logical continuation of a chemical treatment, section C may cover, in addition to the chemical aspect, a part only of the mechanical aspect, e.g., after-treatment of artificial stone, covered by class C04. In this latter case, a note or a reference is usually given to make the position clear, even if sometimes the division is rather arbitrary.
  
CHEMISTRY
 C10
PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
 C10G
CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION (cracking to hydrogen or synthesis gas C01B; cracking or pyrolysis of hydrocarbon gases to individual hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof of definite or specified constitution C07C; cracking to cokes C10B); RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES (inhibiting corrosion or incrustation in general C23F)  [6]
 C10G

Note(s)

  1. In this subclass:
  2. In this subclass, the following terms or expressions are used with the meanings indicated:
    • "in the presence of hydrogen" or "in the absence of hydrogen" mean treatments in which hydrogen, in free form or as hydrogen generating compounds, is added, or not added, respectively;  [3]
    • "hydrotreatment" is used for conversion processes as defined in group C10G 45/00 or group C10G 47/00;  [3]
    • "hydrocarbon oils" covers mixtures of hydrocarbons such as tar oils or mineral oils.  [3]
  3. In this subclass, in the absence of an indication to the contrary, classification is made in the last appropriate place.  [3]
  4. Processes using enzymes or micro-organisms in order to:
    1. liberate, separate or purify a pre-existing compound or composition, or to
    2. treat textiles or clean solid surfaces of materials
    are further classified in subclass C12S.  [5]
 C10G
Subclass index
PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES 1/00 - 5/00, 50/00
DISTILLATION OF HYDROCARBON OILS 7/00
CRACKING 9/00 - 15/00, 47/00
REFINING HYDROCARBON OILS
by treatment with acids, with alkalis 17/00, 19/00
by extraction with solvents or adsorptive solids 21/00, 25/00
by reaction with hydrogen, by oxidation or by other chemical reaction 27/00, 29/00, 45/00, 49/00
Other processes 31/00, 32/00, 33/00
REFORMING 35/00, 59/00 - 63/00
MULTI-STEP PROCESSES 51/00 - 69/00
OTHER PROCESSES 70/00, 71/00
TREATING MINERAL WAXES 73/00
INHIBITING CORROSION 75/00
SUBJECT MATTER NOT PROVIDED FOR IN OTHER GROUPS OF THIS SUBCLASS 99/00
P:340 C10G 1/00
Production of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from oil shale, oil-sand, or non-melting solid carbonaceous or similar materials, e.g. wood, coal (destructive distillation of oil-shale C10B 53/00; mechanical winning of oil from oil-shales, oil-sand, or the like B03B)
P:330 C10G 2/00
Production of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures of undefined composition from oxides of carbon  [5]
P:320 C10G 3/00
Production of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from oxygen-containing organic materials, e.g. fatty oils, fatty acids (production from non-melting solid oxygen-containing carbonaceous materials C10G 1/00; preparation of individual hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof of definite or specified constitution C07C)
P:310 C10G 5/00
Recovery of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from gases, e.g. natural gas
P:300 C10G 7/00
Distillation of hydrocarbon oils (distillation in general B01D)
 C10G 9/00 - 
C10G 11/00
Cracking in the absence of hydrogen
P:290 C10G 9/00
Thermal non-catalytic cracking, in the absence of hydrogen, of hydrocarbon oils
P:280 C10G 11/00
Catalytic cracking, in the absence of hydrogen, of hydrocarbon oils (cracking in direct contact with molten metals or salts C10G 9/00)
P:270 C10G 15/00
Cracking of hydrocarbon oils by electric means, electromagnetic or mechanical vibrations, by particle radiation or with gases superheated in electric arcs
 C10G 17/00 - 
C10G 31/00
Refining in the absence of hydrogen
P:240 C10G 17/00
Refining of hydrocarbon oils, in the absence of hydrogen, with acids, acid-forming compounds, or acid-containing liquids, e.g. acid sludge (using acids generating halogen C10G 27/00)
P:230 C10G 19/00
Refining hydrocarbon oils, in the absence of hydrogen, by alkaline treatment
P:250 C10G 21/00
Refining of hydrocarbon oils, in the absence of hydrogen, by extraction with selective solvents (C10G 17/00, C10G 19/00 take precedence; de-waxing oils C10G 73/00)
P:220 C10G 25/00
Refining of hydrocarbon oils, in the absence of hydrogen, with solid sorbents
 C10G 25/00

Note(s)

When classifying in this group, classification is also made in group B01D 15/08 insofar as subject matter of general interest relating to chromatography is concerned. [8]

P:210 C10G 27/00
Refining of hydrocarbon oils, in the absence of hydrogen, by oxidation (using plumbites or plumbates C10G 19/00)
P:200 C10G 29/00
Refining of hydrocarbon oils, in the absence of hydrogen, with other chemicals
P:260 C10G 31/00
Refining of hydrocarbon oils, in the absence of hydrogen, by methods not otherwise provided for (by distillation C10G 7/00)  [2]
P:190 C10G 32/00
Refining of hydrocarbon oils by electric or magnetic means, by irradiation, or by using microorganisms  [3]
P:180 C10G 33/00
De-watering or demulsification of hydrocarbon oils (by distillation C10G 7/00)
P:170 C10G 35/00
Reforming naphtha
 C10G 35/00

Note(s)

In this group, the following term is used with the meaning indicated:

  • "reforming" means the treatment of naphtha in order to improve the octane number or its aromatic content.  [3]

 C10G 45/00 - 
C10G 49/00
Hydrotreatment processes
P:160 C10G 45/00
Refining of hydrocarbon oils using hydrogen or hydrogen-generating compounds  [3]
 C10G 45/00

Note(s)

Treatment of hydrocarbon oils in the presence of hydrogen-generating compounds not provided for in a single one of groups C10G 45/02, C10G 45/32, C10G 45/44, or C10G 45/58 is covered by group C10G 49/00.  [3]

 C10G 45/02
·  to eliminate hetero atoms without changing the skeleton of the hydrocarbon involved and without cracking into lower boiling hydrocarbons; Hydrofinishing  [3]
 C10G 45/32
·  Selective hydrogenation of the diolefin or acetylene compounds  [3]
 C10G 45/44
·  Hydrogenation of the aromatic hydrocarbons  [3]
 C10G 45/58
·  to change the structural skeleton of some of the hydrocarbon content without cracking the other hydrocarbons present, e.g. lowering pour point; Selective hydrocracking of normal paraffins (C10G 32/00 takes precedence; improving or increasing the octane number or aromatic content of naphtha C10G 35/00)  [3]
P:150 C10G 47/00
Cracking of hydrocarbon oils, in the presence of hydrogen or hydrogen-generating compounds, to obtain lower boiling fractions (C10G 15/00 takes precedence; destructive hydrogenation of non-melting solid carbonaceous or similar materials C10G 1/00)  [3]
P:140 C10G 49/00
Treatment of hydrocarbon oils, in the presence of hydrogen or hydrogen-generating compounds, not provided for in a single one of groups C10G 45/02, C10G 45/32, C10G 45/44, C10G 45/58, or C10G 47/00  [3]
P:130 C10G 50/00
Production of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from lower carbon number hydrocarbons, e.g. by oligomerisation (preparation of individual hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof of definite or specified constitution C07C)  [6]
 C10G 51/00 - 
C10G 69/00
Multi-step processes
 C10G 51/00 - 
C10G 69/00

Note(s)

Groups C10G 51/00-C10G 69/00 cover only those combined treating operations where the interest is directed to the relationship between the steps.  [3]

P:120 C10G 51/00
Treatment of hydrocarbon oils, in the absence of hydrogen, by two or more cracking processes only  [3]
P:110 C10G 53/00
Treatment of hydrocarbon oils, in the absence of hydrogen, by two or more refining processes  [3]
P:100 C10G 55/00
Treatment of hydrocarbon oils, in the absence of hydrogen, by at least one refining process and at least one cracking process  [3]
P:90 C10G 57/00
Treatment of hydrocarbon oils, in the absence of hydrogen, by at least one cracking process or refining process and at least one other conversion process  [3]
P:70 C10G 59/00
Treatment of naphtha by two or more reforming processes only or by at least one reforming process and at least one process which does not substantially change the boiling range of the naphtha  [3]
P:60 C10G 61/00
Treatment of naphtha by at least one reforming process and at least one process of refining in the absence of hydrogen  [3]
P:80 C10G 63/00
Treatment of naphtha by at least one reforming process and at least one other conversion process (C10G 59/00, C10G 61/00 take precedence)  [3]
P:50 C10G 65/00
Treatment of hydrocarbon oils by two or more hydrotreatment processes only  [3]
P:30 C10G 67/00
Treatment of hydrocarbon oils by at least one hydrotreatment process and at least one process for refining in the absence of hydrogen only  [3]
P:40 C10G 69/00
Treatment of hydrocarbon oils by at least one hydrotreatment process and at least one other conversion process (C10G 67/00 takes precedence)  [3]
P:20 C10G 70/00
Working-up undefined normally gaseous mixtures obtained by processes covered by groups C10G 9/00, C10G 11/00, C10G 15/00, C10G 47/00, C10G 51/00  [5]
P:350 C10G 71/00
Treatment by methods not otherwise provided for of hydrocarbon oils or fatty oils for lubricating purposes (chemical modification of drying-oils by voltolising C09F 7/00; lubricating compositions C10M);     [3]
P:10 C10G 73/00
Recovery or refining of mineral waxes, e.g. montan wax (compositions essentially based on waxes C08L 91/00)  [3]
P:0 C10G 75/00
Inhibiting corrosion or fouling in apparatus for treatment or conversion of hydrocarbon oils, in general (C10G 7/00, C10G 9/00 take precedence; protection of pipes against corrosion or incrustation F16L 58/00)  [6]
P:360 C10G 99/00
Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass  [8]