Recebido em 29/5/09; aceito em 30/7/09; publicado na web em 11/1/10 An efficient flotation method based on the combination of flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) and separation and preconcentration step for determination of Cr 3+ , Cu 2+ , Co 2+ , Ni 2+ , Zn 2+ , Cd 2+ , Fe 3+ and Pb 2+ ions in various real samples by the possibility of applying bis(2-hydroxyacetophenone)-1,4-butanediimine (BHABDI) as a new collector was studied. The influence of pH, amount of BHABDI as collector, sample matrix, type and amount of eluting agent, type and amount of surfactant as floating agent, ionic strength and air flow rates i.e. variables affecting the efficiency of the extraction system was evaluated. It is ascertained that metal ions such as iron can be separated simultaneously from matrix in the presence of 0.012 mM ligand, 0.025% (w/v) of CTAB to a test sample of 750 mL at pH 6.5. These ions can be eluted quantitatively with 6 mL of 1.0 mol L -1 HNO 3 in methanol which lead to the enrichment factor of 125. The detection limits for analyte ions were in the range of 1.3-2.4 ng mL –1 . The method has been successfully applied for determination of trace amounts of ions in various real samples.