IPC Definitions - January 01, 2012
C10G - Definition
This subclass covers:
Production of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from oil-shale, oil-sand or non-melting solid carbonaceous materials (e.g. wood, coal), from oxides of carbon (e.g. Fischer-Tropsch processes), from oxygen-containing organic materials (e.g. fatty acids or fatty oils) or from gases (e.g. natural gas).
Distillation, dewatering or demulsification of hydrocarbon oils.
Catalytic or non-catalytic cracking of hydrocarbon oils in the absence of hydrogen.
Refining of hydrocarbon oils in the absence of hydrogen.
Reforming naphtha.
Hydrotreatment processes involving refining, cracking or other treatment of hydrocarbon oils in the presence of hydrogen or hydrogen generating compounds
Production of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from lower carbon number hydrocarbons, e.g. oligomerisation or polymerisation to make longer carbon chains.
Multi-step processes for treating hydrocarbon oils in the presence or absence of hydrogen.
Working up of normally gaseous mixtures of undefined composition obtained from cracking processes.
Treatment of hydrocarbon oils or fatty oils for lubricating purposes, including thickening by voltolisation.
Recovery or refining of mineral waxes, e.g. montan wax.
Relationship between large subject matter areas
This subclass covers the production or treatment of normally liquid hydrocarbon mixtures. The production or treatment of normally solid or gaseous carbonaceous materials is covered by subclasses C10BC10C, C10FC10J and C10K.
The borderline between C10G 2/00C10L 3/06 and C07C 1/02 is not entirely clear in respect of the production of hydrocarbons from oxides of carbon (using processes such as the Fischer-Tropsch process starting from synthesis gas or syngas). There are references from C07C 1/02 to the 2 other placed mentioned, but some multiple classification exists in this area.
Processes using enzymes or micro-organisms in order to:
are further classified in subclass C12S.
References relevant to classification in this subclass
This subclass does not cover:
Mechanical winning of oil from oil-shale, oil-sand or the like | B03B |
Cracking mainly to hydrogen or synthesis gas | C01B |
Preparation of individual hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof of definite or specified constitution, including by cracking or pyrolysis of hydrocarbon gases | C07C |
Compositions essentially based on waxes | C08L 91/00 |
Chemical modification of drying-oils by voltolising | C09F 7/04 |
Cracking to produce cokes | C10B |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Distillation in general | B01D |
Destructive distillation of oil-shale | C10B 53/06 |
Lubricating compositions | C10M |
Inhibiting corrosion or incrustation in general | C23F |
Protection of pipes against corrosion or incrustation | F16L 58/00 |
Special rules of classification
In this subclass:
groups C10G 9/00-C10G 49/00 are limited to one-step processes;
combined or multi-step processes are covered by groups C10G 51/00-C10G 69/00;
refining or recovery of mineral waxes is covered by group C10G 73/00.
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;
"hydrotreatment" is used for conversion processes as defined in group C10G 45/00 or group C10G 47/00;
"hydrocarbon oils" covers mixtures of hydrocarbons such as tar oils or mineral oils.
In this subclass, in the absence of an indication to the contrary, classification is made in the last appropriate place.
In this subclass, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:
Cracking | Cracking is the process whereby complex organic molecules such as heavy hydrocarbons are broken down into simpler molecules (e.g. light hydrocarbons) by the breaking of carbon-carbon bonds in the precursors. The rate of cracking and the end products are strongly dependent on the temperature and presence of any catalysts. |
Refining | Refining is the process of purification of a substance. The term is usually used of a natural resource that is almost in a usable form, but which is more useful in a purer form. For instance, most types of natural petroleum will burn straight from the ground, but they will burn poorly and quickly clog an engine with residues and byproducts. The term "refining" is broad and may include more drastic transformations. The refining of liquids is often accomplished by distillation or fractionation. |
Reforming (catalytic) | Thermal or catalytic reforming is a chemical process used to convert naphtha boiling range feedstocks, typically having low octane ratings, into high-octane liquid products called reformates which are components of high-octane gasoline (also known as petrol). The process represents the total effect of numerous simultaneous reactions, such as dehydrogenation, isomerisation, cracking and polymerisation. |
Cat-cracking | Catalytic cracking |