C
CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY

Note(s) [2009.01]

  • 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
  • Section C covers :
    • pure chemistry, which covers inorganic compounds, organic compounds, macromolecular compounds, and their methods of preparation;
    • 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;
    • 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;
    • 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;
    • metallurgy, ferrous or non-ferrous alloys.
  • 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 18 groups as represented in the table below.
    • fig401
    • 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.
    • 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.
    • There are, however, some exceptions in which the mechanical (or non-chemical) aspect carries with it the chemical aspect, for example:
      • Certain extractive processes, in subclass A61K;
      • The chemical purification of air, in subclass A61L;
      • Chemical methods of fire-fighting, in subclass A62D;
      • Chemical processes and apparatus, in class B01;
      • Impregnation of wood, in subclass B27K;
      • Chemical methods of analysis or testing, in subclass G01N;
      • Photographic materials and processes, in class G03, and, generally, the chemical treatment of textiles and the production of cellulose or paper, in section D.
    • 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:
      • treatment of plants or animals, covered by subclass A01N;
      • foodstuffs, covered by class A23;
      • ammunition or explosives, covered by class F42.
    • 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
C12
BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING

Note(s) [5]

  • Between subclasses C12M-C12Q, and within each of these subclasses, the last place priority rule is applied, i.e. at each hierarchical level, in the absence of an indication to the contrary, classification is made in the last appropriate place. For example, a fermentation or enzyme-using process involving condition-responsive control is classified in subclass C12Q.
  • In this class, viruses, undifferentiated human, animal or plant cells, protozoa, tissues and unicellular algae are considered as microorganisms.
  • In this class, unless specifically provided for, undifferentiated human, animal or plant cells, protozoa, tissues and unicellular algae are classified together with microorganisms. Sub-cellular parts, unless specifically provided for, are classified with the whole cell.
  • The codes of subclass C12R are only for use as indexing codes associated with subclasses C12C-C12Q, so as to provide information concerning the microorganisms used in the processes classified in these subclasses.
C12C
BREWING OF BEER (cleaning of raw materials A23N; pitching or depitching machines, cellar tools C12L; propagating yeasts C12N 1/14)

Note(s) [6]

  • In this subclass, it is desirable to add the indexing codes of subclass C12R.
Subclass index
RAW MATERIALS FOR PREPARING BEER 1/00, 3/00, 5/00
PREPARATION AND TREATMENT OF WORT; FERMENTATION PROCESSES FOR BEER 7/00, 11/00
SPECIAL BEER 12/00
BREWING DEVICES 13/00
C12F
RECOVERY OF BY-PRODUCTS OF FERMENTED SOLUTIONS; DENATURING OF, OR DENATURED, ALCOHOL [6]

Note(s) [6]

  • In this subclass, it is desirable to add the indexing codes of subclass C12R.
C12G
WINE; OTHER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; PREPARATION THEREOF (beer C12C)

Note(s) [6]

  • In this subclass, it is desirable to add the indexing codes of subclass C12R.
C12H
PASTEURISATION, STERILISATION, PRESERVATION, PURIFICATION, CLARIFICATION OR AGEING OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; METHODS FOR ALTERING THE ALCOHOL CONTENT OF FERMENTED SOLUTIONS OR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES (deacidification of wine C12G 1/10; preventing winestone precipitation C12G 1/12; simulation ageing by flavouring C12G 3/06) [6]

Note(s) [2006.01]

  • 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.
  • In this subclass, it is desirable to add the indexing codes of subclass C12R.
C12J
VINEGAR; ITS PREPARATION

Note(s) [6]

  • In this subclass, it is desirable to add the indexing codes of subclass C12R.
C12L
PITCHING OR DEPITCHING MACHINES; CELLAR TOOLS

Note(s) [6]

  • In this subclass, it is desirable to add the indexing codes of subclass C12R.
C12M
APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY (installations for fermenting manure A01C 3/02; preservation of living parts of humans or animals A01N 1/02; brewing apparatus C12C; fermentation apparatus for wine C12G; apparatus for preparing vinegar C12J 1/10) [3]

Note(s) [6]

  • Attention is drawn to Notes (1) to (3) following the title of class C12.
  • In this subclass, it is desirable to add the indexing codes of subclass C12R.
C12N
MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF (biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing microorganisms, viruses, microbial fungi, enzymes, fermentates, or substances produced by, or extracted from, microorganisms or animal material A01N 63/00; medicinal preparations A61K; fertilisers C05F); PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q 1/00) [3]

Note(s) [2006.01]

  • Attention is drawn to Notes (1) to (3) following the title of class C12.
  • Biocidal, pest repellant, pest attractant or plant growth regulatory activity of compounds or preparations is further classified in subclass A01P.
  • Therapeutic activity of single-cell proteins or enzymes is further classified in subclass A61P.
  • 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.
  • In this subclass, it is desirable to add the indexing codes of subclass C12R.
Subclass index
MICROORGANISMS; SPORES; UNDIFFERENTIATED CELLS; VIRUSES 1/00, 3/00, 5/00, 7/00, 11/00
ENZYMES 9/00, 11/00
TREATMENT WITH ELECTRICAL OR WAVE ENERGY 13/00
MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING 15/00
C12P
FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE [3]

Note(s) [6]

  • This subclass covers both major and minor chemical modifications.
  • Group C12P 1/00 covers processes for producing organic compounds not sufficiently identified to be classified in groups C12P 3/00-C12P 37/00. Compounds identified only by their empirical formulae are not considered to be sufficiently identified.
  • Attention is drawn to Notes (1) to (3) following the title of class C12.
  • If a particular reaction is considered of interest, it is also classified in the relevant chemical compound class, e.g. C07, C08.
  • In this subclass:
    • metal or ammonium salts of a compound are classified as that compound.
    • compositions are classified in the relevant compound groups.
  • In this subclass, it is desirable to add the indexing codes of subclass C12R.
Subclass index
BIOSYNTHESIS OF CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES
Inorganic compounds 3/00
Acyclic or carbocyclic organic compounds 5/00-15/00
peptides or proteins 21/00
Carotenes 23/00
Tetracyclines 29/00
Prostaglandins 31/00
Steroids 33/00
Heterocyclic organic compounds 17/00
containing saccharide radicals 19/00
Riboflavin 25/00
Giberellin 27/00
Cephalosporin; penicillin 35/00, 37/00
SEPARATION OF OPTICAL ISOMERS 41/00
OTHER PROCESSES FOR BIOSYNTHESIS PREPARATIONS 1/00, 39/00
C12Q
MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS (immunoassay G01N 33/53); COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL OR ENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES [3]

Note(s) [6]

  • This subclass does not cover the observation of the progress or of the result of processes specified in this subclass by any of the methods specified in groups G01N 3/00-G01N 29/00, which is covered by subclass G01N.
  • In this subclass, the following expression is used with the meaning indicated:
    • "involving", when used in relation to a substance, includes the testing for the substance as well as employing the substance as a determinant or reactant in a test for a different substance.
  • Attention is drawn to Notes (1) to (3) following the title of class C12.
  • In this subclass, test media are classified in the appropriate group for the relevant test process.
  • In this subclass, it is desirable to add the indexing codes of subclass C12R.
C12R
INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES C12C-C12Q, RELATING TO MICROORGANISMS [3]

Note(s) [3]

  • This subclass constitutes an indexing scheme associated with the other subclasses of class C12, relating to microorganisms used in the processes classified in subclasses C12C-C12Q.
  • The bacteria terminology is based on "Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology", Eighth Edition, 1975.