Recovery of copper, lead and zinc from complex sulphide concentrates with hydrometallurgical processes has been used as an alternative due to the technological and environmental impacts. In laboratory evaluation of the selective leaching, the metal values in the flotation concentrates were selectively recovered by sulphuric acid (H2SO4) and ferric sulphate (Fe2SO4)(3). The experimental parameters studied were pulp density, temperature and time for leaching. From the experimental results, it is concluded that recovery of Cu and Zn from sulphide concentrates can be as high as 89% and 97%, respectively under laboratory conditions. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.