A　cationic　organic　silicone　surfactant　(DTA)　with　specially　designed　functional　groups　was　developed　as　a　flotation　collector　for　smithsonite.　This　surfactant　was　synthesized　via　the　reaction　between　hexaethyldisiloxane　and　N-β-(aminoethyl)-γ-aminoisobutylmethyldimethoxy　silane　using　tetramethylammonium　hydroxide　as　a　catalyst.　Its　flotation　performance　was　validated　by　flotation　tests　using　pure　minerals.　The　results　illustrated　that　DTA　has　strong　collecting　ability　and　better　selectivity　for　smithsonite　against　quartz,　calcite　and　dolomite　compared　to　the　traditional　collectors　such　as　octadecylamine,　tetradecylamine　and　dodecylamine.　Based　on　the　analysis　of　FTIR　spectra,　zeta-potential　measurements,　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy　and　density　functional　theory　calculations,　it　can　be　concluded　that　the　adsorption　mechanism　of　DTA　on　the　surface　of　smithsonite　was　mainly　dominated　by　chemisorption　and　electrostatic　adsorption.　DTA＇s　unique　properties,　which　include　two　coordination　sites　([sbnd]NH2　and　[sbnd]NH[sbnd]),　and　the　“parachute”　shape　structure　of　[sbnd]OSi(C2H5)3,　resulted　in　superior　collecting　powers　for　smithsonite.　©　2017　Elsevier　B.V.