<p>Copper smelting dust is a hazardous byproduct characterized by a high concentration of valuable metals; it also contains significant quantities of arsenic, presenting simultaneous challenges for resource recovery and environmental protection. This study presents an innovative oxygen pressure acid leaching process that simultaneously achieves high-efficiency copper extraction (98.95%) and arsenic immobilization (95.86%) from copper smelting dust—a significant advancement over conventional methods. Through systematic investigation of process parameters and reaction kinetics, we reveal a distinctive two-stage leaching mechanism: an initial chemical reaction-controlled phase (<i>Ea</i> = 63.35&#xa0;kJ/mol) followed by diffusion-controlled kinetics (<i>Ea</i> = 14.38&#xa0;kJ/mol). As the first kinetic model developed for copper smelting dust in sulfuric acid concentration (0.78), oxygen partial pressure (0.32), Fe/As molar ratio (1.96), and liquid-to-solid (L/S) ratio (0.84), it provides a foundational framework for tailoring leaching protocols, overcoming the empirical trial-and-error approaches previously documented. Notably, our process enables direct arsenic precipitation as stable scorodite during leaching, eliminating the need for separate arsenic fixation steps. The derived kinetic model provides fundamental insights into the selective leaching behavior while demonstrating practical advantages of reduced energy consumption and acid usage. This work represents a significant step toward sustainable copper recovery, offering an environmentally sound solution for comprehensive utilization of hazardous smelting byproducts with strong industrial applicability.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>