<![CDATA[Leaching at atmospheric pressure is one of the leaching methods of concern because it has several advantages, namely that it can process low-level nickel ore, can operate at temperatures >100 ⁰C at atmospheric pressure, and can be used in saprolite and limonite ores. In this research, nickel extraction from nickel laterite ore was carried out using sulfuric acid solution (H2SO4) as a leaching agent. The variables that were varied in the leaching process were temperature (30, 60, and 90 ⁰C), sulfuric acid concentration (0.2, 0.5, and 0.8 molar) and leaching time (30, 60, and 90 minutes). In this study, a 3-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to see the significance of the variable effects and the order of the most influential variables. In addition, leaching kinetics was studied by shrinking core models to determine rate determining step. The results showed that the increase in temperature, sulfuric acid and leaching time produced a higher percentage of extracted nickel. Based on the 3-factor ANOVA, the order of the most influential variables was obtained, namely temperature, acid concentration and leaching time. The kinetics analysis showed that rate determining step of leaching ore nickel laterite with H2SO4 solution on atmospheric pressure is controlled by diffusion through solid layer product.Keywords: analysis of variance; leaching; saprolit; limonitA B S T R A KLeaching pada tekanan atmosfer adalah salah satu metode pelindian yang menjadi perhatian karena memiliki beberapa keuntungan yaitu dapat mengolah bijih nikel kadar rendah, dapat beroperasi pada temperatur >100 ⁰C pada tekanan atmosfer serta dapat digunakan pada bijih saprolit dan limonit. Dalam penelitian ini, dilakukan ekstraksi nikel dari bijih nikel laterit menggunakan larutan asam sulfat (H2SO4) sebagai agen pelindi. Variabel yang divariasikan dalam proses pelindian yaitu temperatur (30, 60, dan 90 ⁰C), konsentrasi asam sulfat (0,2; 0,5; dan 0,8 molar) dan waktu pelindian (30, 60, dan 90 menit). Dalam penelitian ini digunakan analysis of variance (ANOVA) 3 faktor untuk melihat signifikansi variabel dan urutan variabel yang paling berpengaruh. Selain itu, dilakukan studi kinetika pelindian menggunakan shrinking core model untuk mengetahui pengendali laju reaksi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa peningkatan variabel temperatur, konsentrasi asam sulfat dan waktu pelindian menyebabkan meningkatnya persen ekstraksi nikel. Berdasarkan hasil ANOVA 3 faktor diperoleh urutan variabel yang paling berpengaruh yaitu temperatur, konsentrasi asam dan waktu pelindian. Hasil analisis kinetika menunjukkan bahwa pengendali laju reaksi pelindian bijih nikel laterit menggunakan larutan H2SO4 pada tekanan atmosfer yaitu difusi melalui lapisan produk padat.Kata kunci: analysis of variance; pelindian; limonit; saprolit]]>
