The invention is directed to chelating agent modified graphene oxides having the following formula G(AB)x; wherein G is graphene oxide, A is selected from the group consisting of —(CH2)m—, —NH—, —S—, —O—Si(—OR1)2(—CH2)m—, —C(═O)—, —C(═O)—O—, —C(═O)—O(CH2)m—, —C(═O)—NH—, —C(═O)—NH—(CH2)m—, —P(═O)2—O—, wherein m is 1-12 and R1 is H, or C1-C12 alkyl; and B is a chelating moiety; wherein the ratio of basic graphene oxide units:x is from about 1:0.00001 to about 1:0.5. Such chelating modified graphene oxides have broad applications in diverse technical fields.