C11C - Definition 
Definition statement
This subclass covers:
Methods and apparatus for preparation of fatty acids from fats, fatty oils, or waxes; compositions thereof, e.g. alpha-eleostearic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, etc.
Refining the fatty acids; methods and apparatus therefor
Fats, oils, or fatty acids by chemical modification of fats, oils, or fatty acids obtained therefrom e.g. ester polyols, fatty acid alkyl esters, epoxidized rape-seed oil; methods and apparatus therefor
Candles; compositions therefor, processes and apparatus for production thereof
Relationship between large subject matter areas
The use of fatty acids, fats, oils or waxes for different purposes should be classified in appropriate application places, e.g. using fatty acids esters of higher fatty acids as emulsifiers should relate to B01F 17/06; using fatty acids as active ingredients for mortars, concrete or artificial stone - to C04B 24/04; using oils, fats, or waxes and derivatives thereof in cosmetics or toilet preparations - to A61K 8/92; using fats, fatty oils, ester type waxes, higher fatty acids, oxidized oils or fats as active ingredients for mortars, concrete or artificial stone - to C04B 24/08; using fatty oil as lubricating composition base - to C10M 101/04.
C07 covers production or working up chemically synthesized substances, e.g. synthetic waxes, whereas subclass C11C covers synthesis of substances from natural materials.
C11B covers the production, purification/refining, recovery from waste material or working up of oils and fats (e.g. animal or vegetable oils). C11B does not cover obtaining fatty acid or chemical modification of fats, oils or fatty acid from fat, fatty oils or waxes, which are covered by C11C.
A23D covers edible oils or fats and compositions thereof, e.g. margarines, shortenings, cooking oils and provides for subject matter relating to working up or preservation of finished products. Obtaining or refining fatty acid or chemically modified fat, oils or fatty acids including edible oils or fats are covered by subclass C11C, e.g. hydrogenating is covered by C11C 3/12.
References relevant to classification in this subclass
This subclass does not cover:
Sulfonated fats or oils | C07C 309/62 |
Epoxidised fats | C07D 303/42 |
Natural vulcanized oils, e.g. factice | C08H 3/00 |
Recovery of fatty acids from waste materials | C11B 13/00 |
Drying-oils; Methods of obtaining and chemically modifying | C09F |
Informative references
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Preparation of carboxylic acids (e.g. fatty acids) other than by hydrolysis of animal or vegetable oils, fats or waxes | C07C 51/00 |
Saturated fatty acids, per se | C07C 53/00 |
Unsaturated fatty acids, per se | C07C 57/00 |
Preparation of carboxylic acid esters | C07C 67/00 |
Separation, purification, stabilisation, or use of additives associated with the preparation of carboxylic acid esters | C07C 67/48 |
Esters of carboxylic acids, e.g. fatty acid esters | C07C 69/00 |
Compositions of oils, fats or waxes; Compositions of derivatives thereof | C08L 91/00 |
Fuels, additives to fuels | C10L |
Lubricating compositions | C10M |
Preparation of fats, fatty oils, ester-type waxes, higher fatty acids or oxidized oils or fats using enzymes or microorganisms | C12P 7/64 |
Glossary of terms
In this subclass, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:
| Fat | Solid triester of glycerol and (mostly) saturated fatty acids |
| Fatty acid | Any of a class of aliphatic monocarboxylic acids that form part of a lipid molecule and can be derived from fat by hydrolysis; nearly all fatty acids are built around a series of carbon atoms linked together in a chain of 4 to 28 carbon |
| Esterification | A chemical reaction resulting in the formation of at least one ester product. |
| Hydrogenation | Chemical process that adds hydrogen atoms to an unsaturated fat or fatty acid |
| Isomerisation | Process by which one molecule is transformed into another molecule which has exactly the same atoms, but the atoms are rearranged e.g. A-B-C → B-A-C, usually requiring special conditions of temperature, pressure, or catalysts |
| Lipid | Any of a group of organic compounds, including the fats, oils, waxes, sterols, and triglycerides, that are insoluble in water but soluble in nonpolar organic solvents, are oily to the touch, and together with carbohydrates and proteins constitute the principal structural material of living cells. |
| Wax | Any of a group of substances composed of hydrocarbons, alcohols, fatty acids, and esters that are solid at ordinary temperatures. They are similar to fats, but are less greasy and more brittle. |
Synonyms and Keywords
In patent documents the following abbreviations are often used:
| FA | Fatty acid |
| DE | Degree of esterification |
In patent documents the following terms "Lipid", "Triglyceride" and "Fat" are often used as synonyms. Also, these terms can be used as keywords.