The effect of concentration and temperature on nickel extraction from laterite nickel ore using atmospheric pressure acid leaching method

Nickel laterite is a metallic mineral product of intensive weathering of ultramafic rocks. Nickel (Ni) from low grade laterite nickel ore can be extracted by the leaching method, using sulfuric acid. Unfortunately, the Caron and High-Pressure Acid Leaching (HPAL) processes are suitable only for ores with low magnesium and/or silicate content such as limonite. For this reason, it is necessary to prepare an alternative in the form of the Atmospheric Pressure Acid Leaching (APAL) method under atmospheric pressure conditions which is the focus of this research. The effects of sulfuric acid concentration and leaching temperature were investigated. The product was characterized by AAS. At a concentration of 1M at 80℃ the maximum nickel content was 79.25%.