Novel carboxyl hydroxamic acids compounds, including 2-carboxyl-6-methylcyclohexane carboxamic acid (CMCA), 2-carboxymethyl-decylen-4-yl hydroxamic acid (CDHA), and 2-carboxymethyl-tetradecen-4-yl hydroxamic acid (CTHA) were synthesized, and the flotation behaviors of diaspore, kaolinite and illite were investigated by using these compounds as collectors. The adsorption mechanism of CTHA on the surface of diaspore, kaolinite and illite was conducted by zeta-potential, adsorption amount and FTIR spectra measurement. The interaction of CTHA on the diaspore surface may be mainly dominated by the chemical adsorption; however, the adsorption of CTHA on kaolinite or illite is mainly dominated by the physical one. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.