The primary aerobic biodegradation of several sulfide mineral flotation collectors has been studied, and the kinetic model of biodegradation is also discussed. The results show that sodium diethyldithiocarbamate, ammonium butyl-dithiophosphate, n-butyl xanthate can be readily biodegraded, their primary biodegradation extent can reach 97.1%, 93.7%, 81.8%, respectively in 8 d. However, ethylthionocarbamate is difficult to be biodegraded, with its primary biodegradation efficiency being only 37.3% in 8 d. The rate constants follow the order of: k(sodiurn) (diethyldithiocarbamate)>k(ammonium butyl-dithiophosphate)>k(n-butyl) (xanthate)>k(ethylthionocarbamate). Their aerobic biodegradation kinetics can be accurately described by first order reaction kinetics equations. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.