The　sodium　oleate　collector　used　in　malachite　flotation　usually　exhibits　low　selectivity.　By　partially　replacing　sodium　oleate　with　alcohols,　this　study　presents　a　method　for　increasing　the　selectivity　of　sodium　oleate-based　collectors　in　malachite　flotation.　By　combining　3　×　10−5　mol/L　alcohols,　such　as　1-octanol,　2-ethylhexanol,　and　α-terpineol,　with　1　×　10−5　mol/L　sodium　oleate,　malachite　floatability　values　higher　than　98%　are　achieved.　Contact　angle　and　zeta　potential　measurements　reveal　that　the　co-adsorption　of　alcohols　with　sodium　oleate　may　be　resulted　from　the　hydrophobic　interactions　between　their　hydrocarbon　chains.　The　co-adsorption　of　methyl　isobutyl　carbinol,　along　with　its　shorter　hydrocarbon　chain,　makes　it　more　difficult　to　render　the　malachite　surface　highly　hydrophobic.　However,　the　co-adsorption　of　straight-chain　and　branched-chain　alcohols　with　sodium　oleate　shows　the　ability　consistently　to　induce　high　malachite　floatability.　©　2018　Elsevier　Ltd