High gangue entrainment is a major problem in fine particle flotation. In this study, the entrainment of kaolinite
Q38 in flotation was examined in tap and saline water. High molecular weight polyethylene oxide (PEO) was
used to reduce the entrainment of kaolinite Q38 by enlarging the size of kaolinite particles in flotation. It was
found that PEO reduced the entrainment significantly in flotation using tap water, but in saline water, the effect
of PEO was less pronounced. The aggregation behaviour of kaolinite Q38 particles in the absence and presence of
PEO and its effect on the entrainment of kaolinite Q38 were studied by the in-situ measurement of flocs and the
size of enlarged particles, settling tests and the measurement of froth stability in flotation. It is interesting to find
that PEO did flocculate kaolinite Q38 particles and enlarge their sizes in flotation despite high agitation. However,
the reduction of the entrainment of kaolinite Q38 in flotation was dependent on the type of flocs formed and
froth stability which can be modified by electrolytes in water and a high addition of PEO