(under subclass 600) Process in which a solid sorbent competes in affinity with a relatively moving carrier liquid or solvent for a constituent such that the constituent is moved through the sorbent at a rate slower than the liquid and determined by the equilibrium or partition coefficient of the liquid-sorbent combination.
(1) Note. The process may separate more than one constituent with different partition coefficients, selectively spacing said constituents in consequence of the differing equilibria in the constituent liquid-sorbent combinations.
(2) Note. The processes provided for in subclasses 633, 634+, 656+, and 660+ utilize similar functions based on relative attraction or repellancy of materials and an explanation of the distinction between the concepts of subclasses 633 and 634+ on the one hand and subclasses 656+
and 660+ on the other hand, is given in the definition of subclass 634.
(3) Note. A process in which a liquid or organic gel acts as a sorbent is a liquid/liquid solvent extraction process and a patent to such a process will be placed in subclass 635. The organic gels exhibit a resilient or plastic property indicative of the underlying liquid nature. Silica gel (inorganic) which has the characteristic of a solid granular mass is not a gel-type sorbent for that subclass (635) and a process using silica gel is classifiable in this or an indented subclass.
SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:
635, for a liquid/liquid or gel-type chromatography, such as partition chromatography process, and see (2) Note supra.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS 73, Measuring and Testing,
19.02, 23.35+ and 61.43 for a test involving chromatography.
95, Gas Separation: Processes,
82+, for processes of gas separation using chromatography.
502, Catalyst, Solid Sorbent, or Support Therefor: Product or Process of Making, for a composition comprising a catalyst or sorbent, per se.
