Sulfur-containing ligands and methods of their utilization for binding metals and / or main group elements and removing them from fluids, solids, gases and / or tissues are disclosed. The ligands are of the general structure:where R1 comprises
benzene,
pyridine, pyridin-4-one,
naphthalene,
anthracene,
phenanthrene or
alkyl groups, R2 comprises
hydrogen, alkyls, aryls, a carboxyl group,
carboxylate esters, organic groups or biological groups, R3 comprises alkyls, aryls, a carboxyl group,
carboxylate esters, organic groups or biological groups, X comprises
hydrogen,
lithium,
sodium,
potassium,
rubidium, cesium, francium, alkyls, aryls, a carboxyl group,
carboxylate esters,
thiophosphate, N-
acetyl cysteine,
mercaptoacetic acid,
mercaptopropionic acid, thiolsalicylate, organic groups or biological groups, n independently equals 1-10, m=1-6, Y comprises
hydrogen, polymers, silicas or silica supported substrates, and Z comprises hydrogen, alkyls, aryls, a carboxyl group, carboxylate esters, a hydroxyl group, NH2, HSO3, halogens, a
carbonyl group, organic groups, biological groups, polymers, silicas or silica supported substrates.