ARRMarilović, DraganaBogdanović, GrozdankaStevanović, ZoranPetrović, Sanja J.Sokić, Miroslav2025-12-172025-12-1720252524-34702524-346210.1007/s42461-025-01412-zhttps://repozitorijum.tfbor.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/6060A new sustainable leaching system with low reagents and energy consumption is a major step forward in the recovery of metals from secondary raw materials. Sulfuric acid is the most commonly used leaching agent for flotation tailings, primarily due to its high efficiency, low cost, and availability. However, ionic liquids have recently attracted increasing attention as a more sustainable and selective alternative to conventional acids, due to their characteristics such as low volatility, chemical stability and possibility for regeneration. This study investigated the leaching behavior of Cu and Fe from flotation tailings with the ionic liquid solution [bmim][HSO4] and sulfuric acid solution (H2SO4) to compare the effect of these reagents on the extraction efficiency of Cu and Fe ions. The leaching parameters, such as ionic liquid concentration in the presence and absence of the oxidant, stirring speed, solid-liquid ratio, and oxidant concentration on the flotation tailings leaching, were investigated. The maximum copper extraction of 91.55% was achieved under the following conditions: solid/liquid ratio 1:20, 0.1 mol/dm3 concentration of ionic liquid, 1.5 mol/dm3 H2O2 concentration, stirring speed 400 rpm at ambient temperature within 120 min of leaching. Under the same conditions, the iron leaching degree was around 24%. Based on the copper leaching degree and content of copper oxide in the initial sample, it is assumed that Cu is also leached from sulfide minerals.enLeachingIonic liquidFlotation tailingsCopperIronarticle