In　this　study,　sodium　oleate　(NaOL)　was　employed　as　a　collector　to　examine　the　role　and　adsorption　mechanism　of　a　novel　regulator,　the　polyether　polycarboxylate　superplasticizer　(PCE-11),　in　the　flotation　separation　of　brucite　and　serpentine.　Efficient　separation　of　brucite　and　serpentine　was　achieved　under　the　reagent　system　with　the　PCE-11　dosage　of　600　mg/L,　NaOL　dosage　of　320　mg/L,　and　pulp　pH　of　11.　Surface　wettability　analysis　revealed　that　PCE-11　diminishes　the　hydrophobicity　of　serpentine　in　the　NaOL　system.　Zeta　potential　analysis　and　adsorption　capacity　analysis　demonstrated　a　significant　reduction　in　NaOL　adsorption　capacity　on　the　serpentine　surface　following　interaction　with　PCE-11.　Infrared　spectrum　analysis　and　XPS　analysis　revealed　that　PCE-11　is　adsorbed　on　the　surface　of　both　brucite　and　serpentine,　with　a　certain　number　of　Mg　sites　remaining　bonded　to　NaOL　after　PCE-11　occupies　part　of　the　Mg　sites　on　the　brucite　surface.　However,　PCE-11　impedes　NaOL　adsorption　on　serpentine　surfaces,　enhancing　the　floatability　difference　between　the　two　minerals.　©　2024　Taylor　&　Francis　Group,　LLC.