To　study　the　debromination　pretreatment　and　the　recovery　of　bromide　from　high　bromine　content　circuit　board　smelting　flue　dust　(CBSFD)　is　relevant　to　the　effective　utilization　of　e-waste　and　environmental　protection.　In　this　study,　the　presence　of　cuprous　bromide　(CuBr)　and　lead　bromide　(PbBr2)　is　proved　by　characterizing　the　smelting　flue　dust　from　waste　printed　circuit　boards　(WPCBs).　Chemical　analysis　shows　that　the　content　of　bromine　in　the　flue　dust　sample　is　as　high　as　24.9%.　The　leaching　rate　of　bromine　by　NaOH　and　the　related　leaching　kinetics　under　different　operating　conditions　were　evaluated.　The　results　reveal　the　optimum　leaching　conditions　as　follows:　liquid-solid　ratio　of　12:1,　stirring　speed　of　600　rpm,　leaching　temperature　of　343　K,　NaOH　concentration　of　2　mol/L　and　leaching　time　of　120　min.　The　optimal　bromine　leaching　rate　is　as　high　as　96.4%.　Kinetic　study　results　show　that　the　bromine　leaching　process　conforms　to　the　ash　layer　diffusion　control　mode　of　the　shrinking　core　model　(SCM).　The　apparent　activation　energy　calculated　from　the　Arrhenius　equation　is　14.73　kJ/mol.　(C)　2020　The　Author(s).　Published　by　Elsevier　B.V.