New sulphoxide modified resins were synthesized using poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) (PS-DVB) as matrix. Infrared spectroscopy and elemental analysis were used for characterisation. Solid-phase extraction of Pt-IV, Ru-III and Ru-IV from acidic chloride solutions was performed via batch experiments. Influence of spacer length between sulphoxide and matrix (ethylene, hexamethylene), substitution of sulphoxide (R-1: ethyl, hexyl, phenyl) and bead size of PS-DVB (spherical beads: d(50) < 155 mu m, d(50) < 80 mu m; powder: d(50) < 30 mu m) on adsorption was investigated subjected to acidity. Experimental results showed that ethyl substituted sulphoxide immobilised onto ground PS-DVB and hexamethylene spacer exhibited best adsorption properties. Different kinetic models and isotherms were fitted to the experimental data to identify extraction mechanism. Pt-IV was quantitative sorbed at [HCl] <= 0.1 mol/L whereas Ru-III and Ru-IV sorption ranged between 90% and 95% at [HCl] 5 mol/L. Desorption was reached using a solution of 0.5 M thiourea (Tu) in 0.1 M HCl at 90 degrees C. Separation of Pt-IV and Rum occurred at [HCl] <= 0.1 mol/L whereas Pt-IV was extracted and Ru-III remained in solution. A further separation was achieved by extracting Pt-IV and Ru-IV at 5 M HCl followed by sequential elution of Pt-IV with concentrated HCl and Ru-IV with 0.5 M Tu in 0.1 M HCl at 90 degrees C. 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.