The effects of dodecylamine (DDA), kerosene and pH oil the recovery Of Combustible matter and ash content of a lignitic coal from Tuncbilek, Turkey have been studied using a three-variable and two-level (23) factorial experimental design. The coal sample responded favourably to batch flotation with high recoveries in excess of 95% using both kerosene and DDA respectively. The main effects of all three factors on the recovery are positive. Significance of DDA as a collector, is somewhat greater than that of kerosene. but its selectivity for ash reduction is not significant at the 95% confidence level. The pH-dependence of recovery by these collectors is opposite to each other. The DDA-induced flotation recovery is lowest at pH 9.4, an effect which has been related to precipitation of cationic species of this collector. The kerosene-induced recovery and grade of combustible matter increases with pH and this has been attributed to a better dispersion of coal and its associated clays. The two-way interaction effects are all negative at a smaller level. The main and interaction effects have been discussed oil the basis of adsorption at most favourable surface sites, different modes of orientation of DDA species, competition with kerosene, and probable collecting properties of the frother used. The simultaneous effects of the two collectors on the recovery of combustible matter have been discussed at each pH value used. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.