Abstract: In this paper, the impurity elements such as arsenic, antimony and bismuth in the copper smelting process were used as research objects. By comparing and analyzing the actual production data, a preliminary understanding has been made of the distribution of arsenic, antimony and bismuth in different processes in the copper smelting. The results show that the distribution of arsenic, antimony and bismuth in different smelting processes is quite different. Arsenic, antimony and bismuth in copper concentrates are mainly converted to by-products such as dust, slag, anode slime and black copper after smelting, blowing and electrolytic refining. The main methods, technological process, technological parameters and achievements in recent years are introduced of recovering arsenic, antimony and bismuth from by-products of copper smelting.