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

Related Keywords

inorganic ACID(S)CHEMISTRY of inorganic compoundsFLUORIDESHALIDESINORGANIC chemistryinorganic METAL COMPOUNDSinorganic NITRATESinorganic compounds of NON-FERROUS metalsQUARTZSALT(S) of inorganic acids

5 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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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