DETAILED ACTION
This Office action is in response to Applicant’s Remarks filed February 23, 2026. No claims have been amended. Claims 9-11 and 14-16 remain withdrawn from consideration. Currently, claims 1-16 remain pending in the application.
The text of those sections of Title 35 U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in the prior Office action, Paper No. 20251028.
The rejection of claims 1-8 and 12-13 under 35 U.S.C. 102((a)(1)) as anticipated by or, in the alternative, under 35 U.S.C. 103 as obvious over Burton et al, WO 01/94284, is maintained for the reasons of record.
The rejection of claims 1-8 and 12-13 on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-2 of U.S. Patent No. 11,905,499 is withdrawn in view of Applicant’s timely filed Terminal Disclaimer.
The provisional rejection of claims 1-8 and 12-13 on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-7 of copending Application No. 18/842,549 is withdrawn in view of Applicant’s timely filed Terminal Disclaimer.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed February 23, 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant argues that Burton et al, WO 01/94284, does not teach or suggest in general a semiconductor treatment liquid comprising high-purity isopropyl alcohol wherein a concentration of an oxolane compound is 25 ppb or less on a mass basis with respect to the isopropyl alcohol, as required by applicant in the instant claims. However, the examiner respectfully disagrees. The examiner notes that applicant’s arguments with respect to the instant claims are drawn to the process by which the high purity isopropyl alcohol is made. However, the examiner respectfully maintains that the elected invention of claims 1-8 and 12-13 are drawn to a semiconductor treatment liquid comprising high-purity isopropyl alcohol wherein a concentration of an oxolane compound is 25 ppb or less on a mass basis with respect to the isopropyl alcohol, and not to a process of making this liquid. Accordingly, the examiner respectfully maintains that Burton et al, WO 01/94284, clearly discloses a composition comprising high purity isopropyl alcohol of at least 99.9% by weight, wherein the high purity isopropyl alcohol has a metals content of less than about 1 ppb and a water content of less than about 100 ppm (see abstract and page 3, lines 7-22), wherein the composition disclosed in Burton et al contains 0 ppb of oxolane and 0 ppb of an alph,beta-unsaturated aldehyde, which meets the limitation of 25 ppb or less recited in instant claims 1-8 and 12-13.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BRIAN P MRUK whose telephone number is (571)272-1321. The examiner can normally be reached on 7:00am-5:30pm Monday-Thursday.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Angela Brown-Pettigrew, can be reached on 571-272-2817. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/BRIAN P MRUK/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1761
Brian P Mruk
May 7, 2026
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