PURIFYING OR MODIFYING THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF COMBUSTIBLE GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE

Description

C10K covers processes and apparatus for treating synthesis gas, producer gas, water gas, and similar combustible gas mixtures containing carbon monoxide to remove impurities or adjust their chemical composition for specific applications. This includes removal of contaminants such as sulfur compounds, nitrogen oxides, particulates, and tars, as well as chemical conversion methods like the water-gas shift reaction or methanation to modify CO and hydrogen ratios. The subclass encompasses both physical separation techniques (absorption, adsorption, condensation) and catalytic or thermal conversion processes used before end-use in synthesis, power generation, or fuel applications. Related purification of non-combustible technical gases is classified elsewhere in C10.

Filing statistics

IPC subclass C10K recorded 11,196 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 899 in 2013 to 1,213 in 2023 (+35%), peaking at 1,333 applications in 2021. The most active applicants in class C10 are SINOPEC (CHINA PETROCHEMICAL CORPORATION) (8,875 applications), SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY (2,245 applications) and PETROCHINA COMPANY (2,028 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

Additional Content

Isolation of hydrogen from mixtures containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide