The adsorption of a series of monoalkyl phosphates (MAP) of varying alkyl chain lengths (Cn) on a pure natural sample of zircon (ZrSiO4) at 25 degreesC has been studied as a function of concentration and pH. Electrokinetic (zeta-potential) studies showed a significant shift of the isoelectric point of zircon (pH approximately 5.7) to lower pH values, indicating specific interactions between zircon and MAP. Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy and pH increment studies suggested that adsorption of MAP onto zircon proceeded via chelate formation. Adsorption was aided by an attractive lateral alkyl chain interaction energy (phi) of approximately -0.85kT per CH2 group, which suggested that surface aggregates form on the zircon surface. Adsorption isotherms were best described by a Langmuir model, indicating that attractive lateral alkyl chain interactions were compensated by repulsive headgroup interactions, resulting in a pseudo-ideal system. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.