A series of non-ionic surfactants (alcohol ethoxylates, C10-14E6-8) with HLB within the range of 11.1 to 13.1 were used as dispersants during flotation of mondisperse hydrophobized silica particles (representing ink particles) in deinking formulations. Laboratory scale flotation experiments, contact angle, dynamic surface tension and thin film drainage experiments were carried out. These results indicated that the non-ionic surfactant with the highest CMC (C10E6) gave (a) the highest rate of adsorption at the air/solution interface (b) the lowest reduction in contact angle and (c) the lowest flotation efficiency at concentrations above the CMC. However, below the CMC for C10E6 the flotation efficiency was very high probably due to a low amount of adsorbed material at the particle/solution interface. It was also observed that flotation occurred, in spite of the fact that thin-film measurements indicated that the adsorption of non-ionic surfactants at the air/solution and silica/solution interfaces reduced the hydrophobicity of the particles, as indicated by an increase in stability of the aqueous thin film between the particle and air bubble. This result suggests that the bubble/ink particle capture mechanism (occurring through rupture of the thin aqueous film separating the interfaces) is not the only mechanism controlling the flotation efficiency and that other parameters (such as the kinetics of surfactant adsorption, foaming characteristics and bubble size) need to be taken into account. The kinetics is important with respect to the rate of adsorption of surfactant to both interfaces. Under equilibrium conditions, this may give rise to repulsive steric forces between the air bubble and the particles (stable aqueous thin film). However, at lower adsorption levels (caused by slow adsorption rates) the lower steric repulsion will allow effective collection of particles by the bubble. Also, it was suggested that the influence of alcohol ethoxylates on bubble size could effect the particle capture rate and mechanical entrainment of particles in the froth will also play a role in the flotation recovery.