Patent ID: 9050851
Filing Date: 2015-06-09
Classification: B24B,B44C

Abstract:
1. A method for processing waste streams generated by a chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) tool having an active cycle during which the tool uses an abrasive slurry to planarize a substrate, and a rinse cycle during which the tool is rinsed, the method comprising: during at least a portion of the rinse cycle, sending a first waste stream from the CMP tool to a first location, wherein the first waste stream comprises water that was used to rinse the tool; during at least a portion of the active cycle, sending a second waste stream from the CMP tool to a second location distinct from said first location, wherein the second waste stream comprises abrasive particles disposed in a liquid medium, wherein the abrasive particles are from the slurry used by the CMP tool to planarize the substrate and are selected from the group consisting of colloidal silica and fumed silica, and wherein the second waste stream further comprises substrate particles generated by planarizing the substrate with the slurry; and processing the second waste stream at the second location to reformulate the slurry, wherein said processing includes, in any order, (a) increasing the concentration of abrasive particles in the second waste stream by removing a portion of the liquid medium therefrom with a first ultra-filtration device, and (b) removing agglomerates from the second waste stream.