PASTEURISATION, STERILISATION, PRESERVATION, PURIFICATION, CLARIFICATION OR AGEING OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; METHODS FOR ALTERING THE ALCOHOL CONTENT OF FERMENTED SOLUTIONS OR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

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:: PASTEURISATION, STERILISATION, PRESERVATION, PURIFICATION, CLARIFICATION OR AGEING OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; METHODS FOR ALTERING THE ALCOHOL CONTENT OF FERMENTED SOLUTIONS OR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

Description

C12H covers treatment and modification techniques for alcoholic beverages post-fermentation, including pasteurisation, sterilisation, preservation, and purification methods to ensure stability and safety. This classification also encompasses clarification processes (such as filtration or fining) and artificial ageing techniques that alter beverage characteristics. Additionally, it includes methods for adjusting alcohol content through techniques such as dealcoholisation, alcohol enrichment, or concentration of fermented solutions. Related processes for beer, wine, spirits, and other fermented beverages are included, but production methods during active fermentation are classified elsewhere in C12C.

Filing statistics

IPC subclass C12H recorded 14,580 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 666 in 2013 to 1,415 in 2023 (+112%), peaking at 1,671 applications in 2017. 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

C12H ranks 7th of 12 subclasses with filings in C12, with 14,580 applications between 2013 and 2023, 1.0% of the class. Annual filings grew 112% from 2013 to 2023, above the class as a whole (+59%).

Top 10 of 12 subclasses of class C12 by patent applications, 2013–2023
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	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	Recovery of By-Products of Fermented Solutions; Denatured Alcohol; Preparation Thereof	873	0.1%

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

Additional Content

Glossary

adsorption capability of all solid substances to attract to their surfaces molecules of gases or solutions with which they are in contact clarification removal of the suspended material during aging lagering ageing or ripening of the beer by storing. During lagering, fermentation and clarification take place sulfiting process for adding sulfur dioxide (SO 2 )

Limiting references

Deacidification of wine Preventing winestone precipitation Simulation ageing by flavouring

Related Keywords

treating alcoholic beveragesPRESERVING of alcoholic beverages

3 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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C12H 1/00 Pasteurisation, sterilisation, preservation, purification, clarification, or ageing of alcoholic beverages
C12H 3/00 Methods for reducing the alcohol content of fermented solutions or alcoholic beverages to obtain low-alcohol or non-alcoholic beverages
C12H 6/00 Methods for increasing the alcohol content of fermented solutions or alcoholic beverages

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