Abstract:Hydrometallurgy is an effective method to extract metals from ores, waste materials and slags, and metal leaching and extraction are the crucial components of the process. Ionic liquids, due to their unique properties, can replace traditional leaching agents in the leaching process, and replace organic volatile solvents which can produce a significant amount of residue and volatilization losses in the extraction process. They are environmentally friendly and help to promote the development of "green" metallurgy. The research on leaching and extraction separation of ionic liquids was reviewed. The studies on stripping and regeneration of metal-loaded ionic liquids were also introduced.