EFFECT OF SULFURIC ACID CONCENTRATION ON NICKEL RECOVERY FROM LATERITE ORE BY USING ATMOSPHERIC ACID LEACHING METHOD

The processing of laterite ore by pyrometallurgy requires high temperatures whereas the Atmospheric Acid Leaching (AAL) method can be performed below 100 ℃ although its nickel recovery is inconsistent. This research aims to determine effect sulfuric acid concentration on and after extract purification precipitation non-nickel metals. AAL was with an operating temperature 95 °C, time 5 hours, ore-to-solvent ratio 0.05 g/ml, a particle size ± 200 mesh, variation 0.2–1 M. Iron completed pH 0.5–3.8 addition ammonia. result showed that increased recovery. reached 96.43% at 1 Furthermore, purification, 50.61%, which achieved optimum 3.2.