By a simple and convenient method of using formaldehyde as linkages, two new chitosan (CS) derivatives modified respectively with thiosemicarbazide (TSFCS) and thiocarbohydrazide (TCFCS) were synthesized. The new compounds were characterized and studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, thermal gravity analysis and differential scanning calorimetry, and their surface morphologies were determined via scanning electron microscopy. These CS derivatives could form pH dependent gels. The behavior of 304 steel in 2% acetic acid containing different inhibitors or different concentrations of inhibitor had been studied by potentiodynamic polarization test. The preliminary results show that the new compound TCFCS can act as a mixed-type metal anticorrosion inhibitor in some extent; its inhibition efficiency is 92% when the concentration was 60 mg/L. The adsorption studies on a metal ion mixture aqueous solution show that two samples TSFCS and TCFCS can absorb As (V), Ni (II), Cu (II), Cd (II) and Pb (II) efficiently at pH 9 and 4. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.