Patent ID: 7384484

Claim:
A substrate processing apparatus comprising: an alkaline developing unit for performing an alkaline developing process for a substrate, said alkaline developing unit receiving an alkaline developing solution from an alkaline solution supplier that contains said alkaline developing solution; an organic developing unit for performing an organic developing process for a substrate, said organic developing unit receiving an organic developing solution from an organic solution supplier that contains said organic developing solution; a high-pressure processing unit for allowing a high-pressure fluid or a mixture of the high-pressure fluid and a chemical agent, as a processing fluid, to contact a surface of said developed substrate thereby performing a predetermined surface treatment for said developed substrate; and a transport unit common to said alkaline developing unit and said organic developing unit, capable of accessing said alkaline developing unit, said organic developing unit, and said high-pressure processing unit, for unloading the developed substrate from said alkaline developing unit and said organic developing unit and for loading said developed substrate into said high-pressure processing unit, wherein each of said alkaline developing unit and said organic developing unit includes: developing solution supply means for dispensing the corresponding developing solution to said substrate; rinse liquid supply means for dispensing a rinse liquid to said substrate; and replacing solution supply means for dispensing a replacing solution having a composition which is different from that of said rinse liquid to said substrate thereby replacing said rinse liquid with said replacing solution; wherein said alkaline developing unit and said organic developing unit each perform a replacing process as a final processing of said developing process for replacing the solution adhered to said substrate, with said replacing solution being common to said alkaline developing unit and said organic developing unit.