C01 INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
Classification Context
- Section:
- CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- Class:
- INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
Description
C01 encompasses the preparation, purification, and characterization of inorganic compounds and elements that are not covered by other chemistry classes. This class includes non-metallic elements (halogens, noble gases, phosphorus, sulfur, etc.), inorganic acids and bases, salts, oxides, hydroxides, and their industrial synthesis methods. It also covers the production of inorganic chemicals through chemical reactions, extraction processes, and stabilization techniques. Adjacent metallurgical processes and metal-specific chemistries are classified separately under C22 (METALLURGY).
Filing statistics
IPC C01 recorded 401,802 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023, summed across its 5 subclasses. Annual filings grew from 27,742 in 2013 to 47,491 in 2023 (+71%). The most active applicants in class C01 are CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (5,794 applications), SINOPEC (CHINA PETROCHEMICAL CORPORATION) (3,286 applications) and LG CHEM (2,689 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
In class comparison
C01 comprises 5 subclasses with filings; the largest is C01B with 62.5% of the class's 401,802 applications between 2013 and 2023.
| Rank | Subclass | Title | Applications | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C01B, Non-Metallic Elements; Compounds Thereof | Non-Metallic Elements; Compounds Thereof | 251,225 | 62.5% |
| 2 | C01G, Compounds Containing Metals Not Covered by Subclasses or | Compounds Containing Metals Not Covered by Subclasses or | 80,656 | 20.1% |
| 3 | C01F, Compounds of the Metals Beryllium, Magnesium, Aluminium, Calcium, Strontium, Barium, Radium, Thorium, or of the Rare Earth Metals | Compounds of the Metals Beryllium, Magnesium, Aluminium, Calcium, Strontium, Barium, Radium, Thorium, or of the Rare Earth Metals | 36,684 | 9.1% |
| 4 | C01D, Compounds of Alkali Metals, i.e. Lithium, Sodium, Potassium, Rubidium, Caesium, or Francium | Compounds of Alkali Metals, i.e. Lithium, Sodium, Potassium, Rubidium, Caesium, or Francium | 19,597 | 4.9% |
| 5 | C01C, Ammonia; Cyanogen; Compounds Thereof | Ammonia; Cyanogen; Compounds Thereof | 13,640 | 3.4% |
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
Related Keywords
5 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
Navigate with arrow keys, Enter to open
- C01B NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF
- C01C AMMONIA; CYANOGEN; COMPOUNDS THEREOF
- C01D COMPOUNDS OF ALKALI METALS, i.e. LITHIUM, SODIUM, POTASSIUM, RUBIDIUM, CAESIUM, OR FRANCIUM
- C01F COMPOUNDS OF THE METALS BERYLLIUM, MAGNESIUM, ALUMINIUM, CALCIUM, STRONTIUM, BARIUM, RADIUM, THORIUM, OR OF THE RARE EARTH METALS
- C01G COMPOUNDS CONTAINING METALS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES OR
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filings, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 5,794
- SINOPEC (CHINA PETROCHEMICAL CORPORATION) 3,286
- LG CHEM KR 2,689
- BASF (BADISCHE ANILIN & SODA FABRIK) DE 1,669
- CENTRAL SOUTH UNIVERSITY 1,531
- KMUST (KUNMING UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY) 1,252
- SUMITOMO METAL MINING COMPANY JP 1,073
- ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY 1,061
- PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY JP 1,058
- PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 1,038