C22B PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS (electrolytic C25); PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
Description
C22B encompasses the extraction, production, and refining of metals from raw materials, including pretreatment processes such as ore beneficiation, roasting, and calcination. This subclass covers pyrometallurgical, hydrometallurgical, and electrometallurgical methods for obtaining both ferrous and non-ferrous metals, as well as their purification and recovery from scrap or secondary sources. Typical technologies include smelting furnaces, leaching processes, electrolytic refining, and waste treatment for metal recovery. Related alloy production and thermal treatment of metals are classified separately under C22C and C22F respectively.
25 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- C22B 1/00 Preliminary treatment of ores or scrap
- C22B 11/00 Obtaining noble metals
- C22B 13/00 Obtaining lead
- C22B 15/00 Obtaining copper
- C22B 17/00 Obtaining cadmium
- C22B 19/00 Obtaining zinc or zinc oxide
- C22B 21/00 Obtaining aluminium
- C22B 23/00 Obtaining nickel or cobalt
- C22B 25/00 Obtaining tin
- C22B 26/00 Obtaining alkali, alkaline earth metals or magnesium
- C22B 3/00 Extraction of metal compounds from ores or concentrates by wet processes
- C22B 30/00 Obtaining antimony, arsenic or bismuth
- C22B 34/00 Obtaining refractory metals
- C22B 35/00 Obtaining beryllium
- C22B 4/00 Electrothermal treatment of ores or metallurgical products for obtaining metals or alloys (obtaining iron or steel C21B, C21C)
- C22B 41/00 Obtaining germanium
- C22B 43/00 Obtaining mercury
- C22B 47/00 Obtaining manganese
- C22B 5/00 General methods of reducing to metals
- C22B 58/00 Obtaining gallium or indium
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class C22, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- JFE STEEL JP 7,620
- NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION JP 5,769
- POSCO (POHANG IRON AND STEEL COMPANY) KR 4,523
- JFE STEEL 3,080
- NSSMC (NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL) JP 2,999
- ARCELORMITTAL LU 2,962
- CENTRAL SOUTH UNIVERSITY 2,431
- KOBE STEEL JP 2,100
- CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 2,052
- MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION JP 1,405