SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS; MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS

Description

Class B03 encompasses separation technologies for solid materials based on physical properties including density, magnetic susceptibility, and electrical conductivity. It covers wet separation methods (using liquids and pneumatic tables or jigs), magnetic separation, electrostatic separation, and high-voltage electric field separation. Applications include mineral processing, recycling, waste management, and beneficiation of ores where different solid components must be isolated from mixed feeds.

Filing statistics

IPC B03 recorded 111,054 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023, summed across its 3 subclasses. Annual filings grew from 5,199 in 2013 to 12,550 in 2023 (+141%), peaking at 14,390 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class B03 are CHINA UNIVERSITY OF MINING AND TECHNOLOGY (535 applications), CENTRAL SOUTH UNIVERSITY (526 applications) and KMUST (KUNMING UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY) (510 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings