The present work deals with the flotation behavior of kaolinite, illite and pyrophyllite with N-(2-aminoethyl)-1-naphthaleneacetamide (AENA). The best recoveries of kaolinite, illite and pyrophyllite were 41.4%, 39.8% and 90.4% respectively. The flotation behavior of three aluminosilicates is almost independent of pulp pH and the collector concentration. The results obtained show that AENA is a stronger collector for pyrophyllite. Conversely it is weaker for kaolinite and illite. By determining the effects of pulp pH on the zeta potential of aluminosilicates, we found that along with the rise in pulp pH, the zeta potential of the aluminosilicate pulp changed gradually from the plus zone to the minus zone. However, there is not a marked change in the floatability of the aluminosilicates. It was shown that the interaction between the collector and the surfaces of the ore particle was not merely electrostatic force, there are also probably hydrogen bonds between them. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.