Patent ID: 6884332

Claim:
A method of treating an aqueous electroplating bath solution where said aqueous bath solution comprises organic compounds and a metal intended to be plated onto a substrate, said method comprising the steps of: (a) continuously agitating said aqueous bath solution; (b) adjusting the pH of the aqueous bath solution to be in the range of 3.5 to 4.2; (c) adjusting the temperature of the bath solution to be in the range of 43° C. to 83° C. while adding an amount of hydrogen peroxide to said bath sufficient to promote dissolution of said hydrogen peroxide and generation of hydroxyl radicals; and (d) adding an amount of an iron-containing compound into said bath solution so as to increase the rate of dissolution of said hydrogen peroxide to hydroxyl radicals so as to oxidize said organic compounds; (e) whereby the total amount of organic carbon compounds in said bath solution is reduced.