The mercapto-functionalized mesoporous silicas were synthesized via a surfactant-templated sol-gel route using the Pluronic 123 as a directing agent and investigated by different physicochemical methods. Various amounts of 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (from 10 to 40% relative to TEOS) were introduced during the sol-gel synthesis. The specific surface of the sorbents obtained was from 300 to 700 M1/g, the pore diameter was from 3 to 5 nm. The maximum sorption capacity of mercury was 1,8 mmol/g for a sorbent containing 40% MPTMS relative to TEOS. The maximum sorption capacity of palladium was 1 mmol/g for a sorbent containing 20% MPTMS relative to TEOS.