The surface charge property and chemical composition are important for flotation investigation. First, the mineral phase and morphology of different pyrophyllite samples were analyzed. The isoelectric points of different pyrophyllite particles also were determined. Moreover, the effect of chemical composition on flotation recovery of pyrophyllite particles was studied. The isoelectric point (iep) of pyrophyllite particles shows negative correlation with the mass fractions of SiO2 and Na2O. At the point of zero charge of edge plane of pyrophyllite, the zeta potential of pyrophyllite particles displays negative correlation with mass fraction of SiO2. While it shows positive correlation with mass fraction of CaO and TiO2. Additionally, the flotation experiments of the pyrophyllite particles were conducted and the results showed that the flotation recovery has a positive correlation with mass fraction of SiO2, while negative correlation with mass fraction of Al2O3, TFe, and iep. Therefore, the content of SiO2 is beneficial to the flotation of the pyrophyllite particles. (C) 2016 The Society of Powder Technology Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V.