C10C - Definition 
Definition statement
This subclass covers:
Working-up of tar, pitch, asphalt or bitumen, including use of techniques such as distillation, heat-treatment, water removal or extraction with selective solvents.
Production of pyroligneous acid.
Relationship between large subject matter areas
This application-related subclass covers techniques specially adapted to working up of tar, pitch, asphalt or bitumen, or the production of pyroligneous acid, even though some of the techniques per se are covered by subclasses such as C10B, C10G. For example, coking bitumen, tar or the like is covered by C10B 55/00.
References relevant to classification in this subclass
This subclass does not cover:
Obtaining hydrocarbon oils | C10G |
Informative references
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Coumarone resins | C08F 244/00 |
Compositions of bituminous materials | C08L 95/00 |
Coating compositions based on bituminous materials, e.g. asphalt, tar, pitch | C09D 195/00 |
Obtaining natural resins or turpentine | C09F |
Adhesives based on bituminous materials, e.g. asphalt, tar, pitch | C09J 195/00 |
Making carbon filaments by decomposition of organic filaments | D01F 9/14 |
Machines for road construction or repair | E01C |
Glossary of terms
In this subclass, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:
| Tar | Tar is a black thermo-plastic material produced by the destructive distillation of coal – sometimes referred to as coal tar. Is also a residue in the manufacture of coal gas and coke. May also be derived from plants such as pine trees. |
| Pitch | Pitch is the name of a large number of highly viscous liquids which appear solid. Pitch may be made from petroleum or plant sources. Petroleum-derived pitch is also known as bitumen whereas plant-derived pitch is known as resin. Pitch derived from plant resin however is known as rosin. Tar and pitch are often used interchangeably. However, pitch is considered to be more solid whilst tar is considered to be more liquid. |
| Asphalt | Asphalt is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in crude petroleum and in some natural deposits sometimes termed asphaltum. In US terminology asphalt (or asphalt cement) is the carefully refined residue from the distillation process of selected crude oils. Outside of the US, the product is called bitumen. |
| Bitumen | Bitumen is a mixture of organic liquids that are highly viscous, black, sticky, entirely soluble in carbon disulfide and composed primarily of highly condensed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. |
| Pyroligneous acid | Pyroligneous acid, also called wood vinegar, is a dark liquid produced by the destructive distillation of wood. Its principal components are acetic acid and methanol. It was once used as a commercial source for acetic acid. |
Synonyms and Keywords
In patent documents the following abbreviations are often used:
| Pyroligneous acid | Wood vinegar |