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

    The following notes are meant to assist in the use of this part of the classification scheme. They must not be read as modifying in any way the elaborations.
  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. -
    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.
  
METALLURGY
 C22
METALLURGY (of iron C21); FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS (general methods or devices for heat treatment of ferrous or non-ferrous metals or alloys C21D; production of metals by electrolysis or electrophoresis C25)
 C22

Note(s)

The codes of subclass C22K are only for use as indexing codes associated with subclasses C21D, C22C or C22F, so as to provide information concerning changing the physical characteristics of alloys.  [6]

 C22B
PRODUCTION OR REFINING OF METALS (making metallic powder or suspensions thereof B22F 9/00; electrolytic C25); PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
 C22B

Note(s)

  1. In this subclass, groups for obtaining metals include obtaining the metals by non-metallurgical processes, and obtaining metal compounds by metallurgical processes. Thus, for example, group C22B 11/00 covers the production of silver by reduction of ammoniacal silver oxide in solution, and group C22B 17/00 covers the production of cadmium oxide by a metallurgical process. Furthermore, although compounds of arsenic and antimony are classified in C01G, production of the elements themselves is covered by C22B, as well as the production of their compounds by metallurgical processes.
  2. 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]
 C22B
Subclass index
PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS 1/00, 4/00, 7/00
PROCESSES FOR OBTAINING METALS 3/00, 4/00, 5/00
REFINING OR REMELTING METALS 9/00
OBTAINING SPECIFIC METALS 11/00 - 61/00
 C22B 1/00
Preliminary treatment of ores or scrap (furnaces, sintering apparatus F27B)
 C22B 1/02
·  Roasting processes (C22B 1/16 takes precedence)
 C22B 1/04
·  ·  Blast roasting
 C22B 1/06
·  ·  Sulfating roasting
 C22B 1/08
·  ·  Chloridising roasting
 C22B 1/10
·  ·  in fluidised form
 C22B 1/11
·  Removing sulfur, phosphorus or arsenic, other than by roasting  [2]
 C22B 1/14
·  Agglomerating; Briquetting; Binding; Granulating
 C22B 1/16
·  ·  Sintering; Agglomerating
 C22B 1/18
·  ·  ·  in sinter pots
 C22B 1/20
·  ·  ·  in sintering machines with movable grates
 C22B 1/212
·  ·  ·  in tunnel furnaces  [2]
 C22B 1/214
·  ·  ·  in shaft furnaces  [2]
 C22B 1/216
·  ·  ·  in rotary furnaces  [2]
 C22B 1/22
·  ·  ·  in other sintering apparatus
 C22B 1/24
·  ·  Binding; Briquetting
 C22B 1/242
·  ·  ·  with binders  [2]
 C22B 1/243
·  ·  ·  ·  inorganic  [2]
 C22B 1/244
·  ·  ·  ·  organic  [2]
 C22B 1/245
·  ·  ·  ·  ·  with carbonaceous material for the production of coked agglomerates  [2]
 C22B 1/248
·  ·  ·  of metal scrap or alloys  [2]
 C22B 1/26
·  Cooling of roasted, sintered, or agglomerated ores
 C22B 3/00
Extraction of metal compounds from ores or concentrates by wet processes  [5]
 C22B 3/00

Note(s)

  1. In this group, it is desirable to add the indexing codes relating to the metals obtained. The indexing codes, which are chosen from the main groups (only) of groups C22B 11/00-C22B 25/00, from group C22B 19/34 or from any of the groups C22B 26/00-C22B 61/00, have the same numbers as the classification symbols, but a colon is used instead of the oblique stroke, and should be unlinked.  [5]
  2. Attention is drawn to Chapter IV of the Guide which sets forth the rules concerning the application and presentation of the different types of indexing code.  [6]
 C22B 3/02
·  Apparatus therefor
 C22B 3/04
·  by leaching (C22B 3/18 takes precedence)  [5]
 C22B 3/06
·  ·  in inorganic acid solutions  [5]
 C22B 3/08
·  ·  ·  Sulfuric acid  [5]
 C22B 3/10
·  ·  ·  Hydrochloric acid  [5]
 C22B 3/12
·  ·  in inorganic alkaline solutions  [5]
 C22B 3/14
·  ·  ·  containing ammonia or ammonium salts  [5]
 C22B 3/16
·  ·  in organic solutions  [5]
 C22B 3/18
·  with the aid of micro-organisms or enzymes, e.g. bacteria or algae  [5]
 C22B 3/20
·  Treatment or purification of solutions, e.g. obtained by leaching (C22B 3/18 takes precedence)  [5]
 C22B 3/22
·  ·  by physical processes, e.g. by filtration, by magnetic means (C22B 3/26 takes precedence)  [5]
 C22B 3/24
·  ·  ·  by adsorption on solid substances, e.g. by extraction with solid resins  [5]
 C22B 3/26
·  ·  by liquid-liquid extraction using organic compounds  [5]
 C22B 3/28 - 
C22B 3/40

Note(s)

In groups C22B 3/28-C22B 3/40:

  1. in the absence of an indication to the contrary, compounds are classified in the last appropriate place;
  2. when two or more compounds are used successively, each compound is classified as such;
  3. mixtures containing two or more compounds covered individually by the same one of groups C22B 3/28-C22B 3/38, are classified only in that group.  [5]

 C22B 3/28
·  ·  ·  Amines  [5]
 C22B 3/30
·  ·  ·  Oximes  [5]
 C22B 3/32
·  ·  ·  Carboxylic acids  [5]
 C22B 3/34
·  ·  ·  containing sulfur  [5]
 C22B 3/36
·  ·  ·  Heterocyclic compounds (C22B 3/34 takes precedence)  [5]
 C22B 3/38
·  ·  ·  containing phosphorus  [5]
 C22B 3/40
·  ·  ·  Mixtures  [5]
 C22B 3/42
·  ·  by ion-exchange extraction  [5]
 C22B 3/44
·  ·  by chemical processes (C22B 3/26, C22B 3/42 take precedence)  [5]
 C22B 3/46
·  ·  ·  by substitution, e.g. by cementation  [5]
 C22B 4/00
Electrothermal treatment of ores or metallurgical products for obtaining metals or alloys (general methods of refining or remelting metals C22B 9/00; obtaining iron or steel C21B, C21C)  [2]
 C22B 4/02
·  Light metals  [2]
 C22B 4/04
·  Heavy metals  [2]
 C22B 4/06
·  Alloys  [2]
 C22B 4/08
·  Apparatus (electric heating elements H05B)  [2]
 C22B 5/00
General processes of reducing to metals
 C22B 5/02
·  Dry processes
 C22B 5/04
·  ·  by aluminium, other metals, or silicon
 C22B 5/06
·  ·  by carbides or the like
 C22B 5/08
·  ·  by sulfides; Roasting reaction processes
 C22B 5/10
·  ·  by solid carbonaceous reducing agents
 C22B 5/12
·  ·  by gases
 C22B 5/14
·  ·  ·  fluidised material
 C22B 5/16
·  ·  with volatilisation or condensation of the metal being produced
 C22B 5/18
·  ·  Reducing step-by-step
 C22B 5/20
·  ·  from metal carbonyls
 C22B 7/00
Working-up raw materials other than ores, e.g. scrap, to produce non-ferrous metals or compounds thereof
 C22B 7/02
·  Working-up flue dust
 C22B 7/04
·  Working-up slag
 C22B 9/00
General processes of refining or remelting of metals; Apparatus for electroslag or arc remelting of metals
 C22B 9/02
·  Refining by liquating, filtering, centrifuging, distilling or supersonic wave action
 C22B 9/04
·  Refining by applying a vacuum  [3]
 C22B 9/05
·  Refining by treating with gases, e.g. gas flushing  [3]
 C22B 9/10
·  with refining or fluxing agents; Use of materials therefor (C22B 9/18 takes precedence)  [3]
 C22B 9/14
·  Refining in the solid state
 C22B 9/16
·  Remelting metals (liquating C22B 9/02)  [3]
 C22B 9/18
·  ·  Electroslag remelting  [3]
 C22B 9/187
·  ·  ·  Apparatus therefor, e.g. furnaces  [5]
 C22B 9/193
·  ·  ·  ·  Moulds, bottom plates or starter plates  [5]
 C22B 9/20
·  ·  Arc remelting  [3]
 C22B 9/21
·  ·  ·  Apparatus therefor  [5]
 C22B 9/22
·  ·  with heating by wave energy or particle radiation  [3]
 C22B 11/00
Obtaining noble metals
 C22B 11/02
·  by dry processes
 C22B 11/06
·  Chloridising
 C22B 11/08
·  by cyaniding
 C22B 11/10
·  by amalgamating
 C22B 11/12
·  ·  Apparatus therefor
 C22B 13/00
Obtaining lead
 C22B 13/02
·  by dry processes
 C22B 13/06
·  Refining
 C22B 13/08
·  ·  Separating metals from lead by precipitating, e.g. by Parkes process
 C22B 13/10
·  ·  Separating metals from lead by crystallising, e.g. by Pattison process
 C22B 15/00
Obtaining copper
 C22B 15/02
·  in blast furnaces
 C22B 15/04
·  in reverberatory furnaces
 C22B 15/06
·  in converters
 C22B 15/14
·  Refining
 C22B 17/00
Obtaining cadmium
 C22B 17/02
·  by dry processes
 C22B 17/06
·  Refining
 C22B 19/00
Obtaining zinc or zinc oxide
 C22B 19/02
·  Preliminary treatment of ores; Preliminary refining of zinc oxide
 C22B 19/04
·  Obtaining zinc by distilling
 C22B 19/06
·  ·  in muffle furnaces
 C22B 19/08
·  ·  in blast furnaces
 C22B 19/10
·  ·  in reverberatory furnaces
 C22B 19/12
·  ·  in crucible furnaces
 C22B 19/14
·  ·  in vertical retorts
 C22B 19/16
·  ·  Distilling vessels
 C22B 19/18
·  ·  ·  Condensers; Receiving vessels
 C22B 19/20
·  Obtaining zinc otherwise than by distilling
 C22B 19/28
·  from muffle furnace residues
 C22B 19/30
·  from metallic residues or scraps
 C22B 19/32
·  Refining zinc
 C22B 19/34
·  Obtaining zinc oxide (purifying zinc oxide C01G 9/02)
 C22B 19/36
·  ·  in blast or reverberatory furnaces
 C22B 19/38
·  ·  in rotary furnaces
 C22B 21/00
Obtaining aluminium
 C22B 21/02
·  with reducing
 C22B 21/04
·  with alkali metals
 C22B 21/06
·  Refining
 C22B 23/00
Obtaining nickel or cobalt
 C22B 23/02
·  by dry processes
 C22B 23/06
·  Refining
 C22B 25/00
Obtaining tin
 C22B 25/02
·  by dry processes
 C22B 25/06
·  from scrap, especially tin scrap (by electrolytic process C25C 1/14)
 C22B 25/08
·  Refining
 C22B 26/00
Obtaining alkali, alkaline earth metals or magnesium  [2]
 C22B 26/10
·  Obtaining alkali metals  [2]
 C22B 26/12
·  ·  Obtaining lithium  [2]
 C22B 26/20
·  Obtaining alkaline earth metals or magnesium  [2]
 C22B 26/22
·  ·  Obtaining magnesium  [2]
 C22B 30/00
Obtaining antimony, arsenic or bismuth  [2]
 C22B 30/02
·  Obtaining antimony  [2]
 C22B 30/04
·  Obtaining arsenic  [2]
 C22B 30/06
·  Obtaining bismuth  [2]
 C22B 34/00
Obtaining refractory metals  [2]
 C22B 34/10
·  Obtaining titanium, zirconium or hafnium  [2]
 C22B 34/12
·  ·  Obtaining titanium  [2]
 C22B 34/14
·  ·  Obtaining zirconium or hafnium  [2]
 C22B 34/20
·  Obtaining niobium, tantalum or vanadium  [2]
 C22B 34/22
·  ·  Obtaining vanadium  [2]
 C22B 34/24
·  ·  Obtaining niobium or tantalum  [2]
 C22B 34/30
·  Obtaining chromium, molybdenum or tungsten  [2]
 C22B 34/32
·  ·  Obtaining chromium  [2]
 C22B 34/34
·  ·  Obtaining molybdenum  [2]
 C22B 34/36
·  ·  Obtaining tungsten  [2]
 C22B 35/00
Obtaining beryllium
 C22B 41/00
Obtaining germanium
 C22B 43/00
Obtaining mercury
 C22B 47/00
Obtaining manganese
 C22B 58/00
Obtaining gallium or indium  [2]
 C22B 59/00
Obtaining rare earth metals
 C22B 60/00
Obtaining metals of atomic number 87 or higher, i.e. radioactive metals  [2]
 C22B 60/02
·  Obtaining thorium, uranium or other actinides  [2]
 C22B 60/04
·  ·  Obtaining plutonium  [2]
 C22B 61/00
Obtaining metals not elsewhere provided for in this subclass (iron C21)  [2]