The influence of chemical and operational variables on the kinetics of apatite flotation from magnetite was investigated through batch flotation tests in a specially designed, temperature-controlled cell. The significance for the apatite flotation kinetics of four variables - collector, dispersant, pulp pH and temperature - and their interactions was examined through experiments conducted according to a full factorial design. The kinetic parameters of a first-order model with fast and slow floating distribution were utilized in judging the influence of reagent dosage on flotation performance. Statistical tests on phosphorus kinetic data show that collector and dispersant doses have a significant effect on phosphorus recovery. However, pulp temperature is the dominant factor for flotation rate. Increase in pulp temperature increases the flotation rate. The recovery of phosphorus increases with increasing collector dose at a given dispersant dose; however, the flotation rate decreases at doses of collector exceeding 65 g/t when the dispersant is at a higher level. The effect of dispersant dosage on flotation rate is observed to be nonlinear and quite complex owing to the interaction effects between collector and dispersant doses. The maximum recovery of phosphorus with minor loss of magnetite concentrate was obtained at pH 9, with either 30 or 65 g/t collector. The optimum flotation conditions were 65 g/t collector, 350 g/t dispersant, pH 8-9 and a pulp temperature of about 20 deg C