C12F RECOVERY OF BY-PRODUCTS OF FERMENTED SOLUTIONS; DENATURED ALCOHOL; PREPARATION THEREOF
Introduced: September 1968
Last revised: January 1995
Classification Context
- Section:
- CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- Class:
- BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
- Subclass:
- RECOVERY OF BY-PRODUCTS OF FERMENTED SOLUTIONS; DENATURED ALCOHOL; PREPARATION THEREOF
Description
C12F covers processes and techniques for isolating, recovering, and purifying by-products generated during fermentation operations, including alcohols, organic acids, gases, and other valuable compounds. This classification also encompasses the preparation and denaturation of ethanol and other alcohols produced from fermented solutions. Applications include recovery of vinegar, glycerol, CO₂, and fusel oils from brewing, wine-making, and spirit production, as well as the industrial denaturation of alcohol for non-beverage uses.
Filing statistics
IPC subclass C12F recorded 873 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings declined from 105 in 2013 to 76 in 2023 (-28%), peaking at 117 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class C12 are CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (10,330 applications), HARVARD UNIVERSITY (7,308 applications) and UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA (6,383 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
In class comparison
C12F ranks 10th of 12 subclasses with filings in C12, with 873 applications between 2013 and 2023, 0.1% of the class. Annual filings declined 28% from 2013 to 2023, below the class as a whole (+59%).
| Rank | Subclass | Title | Applications | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C12N, Microorganisms or Enzymes; Compositions Thereof; Propagating, Preserving, or Maintaining Microorganisms; Mutation or Genetic Engineering; Culture Media | Microorganisms or Enzymes; Compositions Thereof; Propagating, Preserving, or Maintaining Microorganisms; Mutation or Genetic Engineering; Culture Media | 650,624 | 45.3% |
| 2 | C12Q, Measuring or Testing Processes Involving Enzymes, Nucleic Acids or Microorganisms; Compositions or Test Papers Therefor; Processes of Preparing Such Compositions; Condition-Responsive Control in Microbiological or Enzymological Processes | Measuring or Testing Processes Involving Enzymes, Nucleic Acids or Microorganisms; Compositions or Test Papers Therefor; Processes of Preparing Such Compositions; Condition-Responsive Control in Microbiological or Enzymological Processes | 266,123 | 18.5% |
| 3 | C12M, Apparatus for Enzymology or Microbiology | Apparatus for Enzymology or Microbiology | 171,419 | 11.9% |
| 4 | C12P, Fermentation or Enzyme-Using Processes to Synthesise a Desired Chemical Compound or Composition or to Separate Optical Isomers From a Racemic Mixture | Fermentation or Enzyme-Using Processes to Synthesise a Desired Chemical Compound or Composition or to Separate Optical Isomers From a Racemic Mixture | 146,875 | 10.2% |
| 5 | C12R, Indexing Scheme Associated With Subclasses , Relating to Microorganisms | Indexing Scheme Associated With Subclasses , Relating to Microorganisms | 119,798 | 8.3% |
| 6 | C12G, Wine; Preparation Thereof; Alcoholic Beverages; Preparation of Alcoholic Beverages Not Provided for in Subclasses or | Wine; Preparation Thereof; Alcoholic Beverages; Preparation of Alcoholic Beverages Not Provided for in Subclasses or | 46,945 | 3.3% |
| 7 | C12H, Pasteurisation, Sterilisation, Preservation, Purification, Clarification or Ageing of Alcoholic Beverages; Methods for Altering the Alcohol Content of Fermented Solutions or Alcoholic Beverages | Pasteurisation, Sterilisation, Preservation, Purification, Clarification or Ageing of Alcoholic Beverages; Methods for Altering the Alcohol Content of Fermented Solutions or Alcoholic Beverages | 14,580 | 1.0% |
| 8 | C12C, Beer; Preparation of Beer by Fermentation; Preparation of Malt for Making Beer; Preparation of Hops for Making Beer | Beer; Preparation of Beer by Fermentation; Preparation of Malt for Making Beer; Preparation of Hops for Making Beer | 10,159 | 0.7% |
| 9 | C12J, Vinegar; Preparation or Purification Thereof | Vinegar; Preparation or Purification Thereof | 7,047 | 0.5% |
| 10 | C12F | Recovery of By-Products of Fermented Solutions; Denatured Alcohol; Preparation Thereof | 873 | 0.1% |
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
Additional Content
Glossary
Denatured alcohol ethanol that has additives to make it inedible (poisonous) in order to prevent human consumption. Denatured alcohol permits legitimate use and manufacture of ethanol, since its manufacturing process creates an ethanol-containing solution that is not suitable for drinking, but it is similar to ethanol for most purposes.
Limiting references
Removal of yeast from wine ("degorgeage")
Related Keywords
2 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class C12, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 10,330
- HARVARD UNIVERSITY US 7,308
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA US 6,383
- JIANGNAN UNIVERSITY 5,144
- MONSANTO TECHNOLOGY US 4,121
- PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL US 3,630
- REGENERON PHARMACEUTICALS US 3,515
- CNRS (CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE) FR 3,499
- INSERM (INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA SANTE ET DE LA RECHERCHE MEDICALE) FR 3,371
- CJ CHEILJEDANG CORPORATION KR 3,361