(under subclass 400) Subject matter which includes a step of (1) passing an electric current directly through a feedstock, intermediate, product or other material used in process or (2) subjecting any material in the process to an electric or magnetic field or (3), directly applying radiant energy to the material.
(1) Note. The energy employed must be applied directly to
the material as part of the total process (including pretreatment or posttreatrment).
(2) Note. Where the electrical energy is not applied directly to the material, but is used to generate heat energy that is transferred to the material before, during or after the operation, see other subclasses of this class.
(3) Note. The wave energy applied to the work may be light, sonic, ultrasonic, emanations of radioactive material, infrared rays, ion bombardment, etc.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS
204, Chemistry: Electrical and Wave Energy,
155+, for chemical production of a compound or element by electrical or wave energy in a magnetic field, subclasses 157.15+ for wave energy treatment involving chemical reaction, subclasses 164+ for chemical treatment of a compound or element by an electrostatic field or electrical discharge, subclasses 513+ for electrophoretic or electro-osmotic separation or purification of a hydrocarbon oil, and subclasses 559+ for electrostatic separation or purification of a liquid hydrocarbon. 205, Electrolysis: Processes, Compositions Used Therein, and Methods of Preparing the Compositions, appropriate subclasses for electrolytic treatment of a mineral oil.
219, Electric Heating,
600+, for inductive heating, subclasses 678+ for microwave heating, and subclasses 764+ for capacitive dielectric heating.
250, Radiant Energy, appropriate subclasses for general utilization of ray energy in all forms.
