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.