IPC Definitions - January 01, 2012
C12H - Definition
This subclass covers:
Pasteurisation, sterilisation, preservation, purification, clarification or ageing of alcoholic beverages.
Removal of alcohol from alcoholic beverages to obtain alcohol-free or low-alcohol beverages.
Relationship between large subject matter areas
Beer per se, brewing of beer, fermentation processes and post fermentation treatments for beer are classified in subclass C12C.
While subclass C12C deals with the process of making beer with a low alcohol content, C12H includes the process of removal of alcohol from beer to obtain low-alcohol or alcohol-free beer.
Wine, other alcoholic beverages and their preparation are classified in subclass C12G.
While subclass C12G deals with deacidifying wine, preventing winestone precipitation or flavouring to simulate ageing, C12H includes pasteurisation, sterilisation, preservation, purification, clarification, ageing of alcoholic beverages or removal of alcohol therefrom.
When classifying in this subclass, classification is also made in group B01D 15/08 insofar as subject matter of general interest relating to chromatography is concerned.
It is desirable to add the indexing codes of subclass C12R for micro-organisms which are considered to be of interest for search.
References relevant to classification in this subclass
This subclass does not cover:
Recovery of by- products of wine or beer other than low-alcohol beverages | C12F 3/06 |
Deacidification of wine | C12G 1/10 |
Prevention of winestone precipitation | C12G 1/12 |
Simulation of ageing by flavouring | C12G 3/06 |
Preparation of alcoholic beverages other than wine or beer by varying the composition of fermented solutions | C12G 3/08 |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general | A23L 3/00 |
Distillation or rectification of fermented solutions to obtain pure alcohol | B01D 3/00 |
In this subclass, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:
Adsorption | Capability of all solid substances to attract to their surfaces molecules of gases or solutions with which they are in contact. |
Clarification | Removal of the suspended material during aging. |
Lagering | Ageing or ripening of the beer by storing. During lagering, fermentation and clarification take place. |
Sulfiting | Process for adding sulfur dioxide (SO2). |