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.