G21G CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ELEMENTS; RADIOACTIVE SOURCES
Introduced: September 1968
Last revised: July 1974
Classification Context
- Section:
- PHYSICS
- Class:
- NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
- Subclass:
- CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ELEMENTS; RADIOACTIVE SOURCES
Description
G21G encompasses technologies for artificially converting one chemical element into another, primarily through nuclear reactions, and for producing radioactive sources used in industrial, medical, and research applications. This subclass covers nuclear transmutation processes, particle bombardment methods, reactor-based element conversion, and the manufacture and handling of radioactive materials for practical use. Typical inventions include apparatus for neutron-induced transmutation, production of artificial isotopes, creation of sealed radioactive sources, and devices for element separation post-conversion. Adjacent classes such as G21C (nuclear reactor engineering) and G21F (protection against radiation) address reactor design and radiation safety respectively, whereas G21G focuses specifically on the conversion process itself and source preparation.
Additional Content
Limiting references
Adaptations of reactors to facilitate experimentation or irradiation. Examples of such adaptations include modification of the reactor core to enable exposure of samples for investigative purposes. Irradiation devices. These typically include arrangements to deliberately subject bodies or materials to ionising radiation in order to take advantage of known effects of the radiation thereon.
Application references
Applying radioactive material to the body Radiation therapy using radioactive sources Conversion of chemical elements by thermonuclear reactions in fusion reactors Conversion of nuclear fuel in fission reactors Application of radiation from radioactive sources
Related Keywords
4 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- G21G 1/00 Arrangements for converting chemical elements by electromagnetic radiation, corpuscular radiation, or particle bombardment, e.g. producing radioactive isotopes
- G21G 4/00 Radioactive sources
- G21G 5/00 Alleged conversion of chemical elements by chemical reaction
- G21G 7/00 Conversion of chemical elements not provided for in other groups of this subclass
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class G21, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- CHINA GENERAL NUCLEAR POWER CORPORATION 2,364
- CGN POWER COMPANY 1,899
- CHINA NUCLEAR POWER ENGINEERING COMPANY 1,870
- NUCLEAR POWER INSTITUTE OF CHINA 1,517
- KOREA ATOMIC ENERGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE KR 1,367
- WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION US 1,295
- KOREA HYDRO & NUCLEAR POWER COMPANY KR 1,196
- CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 1,044
- CHINA INSTITUTE OF ATOMIC ENERGY 1,011
- HITACHI-GE NUCLEAR ENERGY 955