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IPC Subclass
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

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

recovery of by-products of FERMENTATION process

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

  1. CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 10,330
  2. HARVARD UNIVERSITY US 7,308
  3. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA US 6,383
  4. JIANGNAN UNIVERSITY 5,144
  5. MONSANTO TECHNOLOGY US 4,121
  6. PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL US 3,630
  7. REGENERON PHARMACEUTICALS US 3,515
  8. CNRS (CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE) FR 3,499
  9. INSERM (INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA SANTE ET DE LA RECHERCHE MEDICALE) FR 3,371
  10. CJ CHEILJEDANG CORPORATION KR 3,361