Used as a selective adsorbent for heavy metal ions such as mercury, silver, and lead due to the strong affinity of thiol groups for soft metals. Commonly applied in environmental remediation for removing toxic metals from wastewater. Also utilized in solid-phase extraction for pre-concentrating trace metals in analytical chemistry. Serves as a chelating agent in purification processes and can be incorporated into sensors for metal ion detection. Its functional group allows covalent binding of biomolecules in bioconjugation and immobilization applications. Stable under a wide range of pH and temperatures, making it suitable for industrial-scale separations.