High hydrolyzed grade, different poly (vinyl alcohol)s (PVA) are introduced as new eco-friendly flocculants for aqueous kaolin suspension. Sedimentation efficiency is investigated as a function of PVA molecular weight, pH and presence of different surfactants in the suspension media. Results are interesting. Low molecular weight PVA (M-n 14,000) at pH 4 excels over other high molecular weight polymers (M-n 30,000 and 115,000) by producing fastest sedimentation followed by low residual turbidity and minimum fresh water removal from the medium. Presence of surfactants has largely delayed sedimentation and has produced exceedingly high residual turbidity except cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide. CTAB which shows turbidity slightly less than the low molecular weight PVA at its best working pH (pH 4). (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.