TurboBeads with complexion groups covalently attached to the carbon surface were utilised to enrich dissolved copper from environmental waters prior to analysis by chelation ion chromatography. Detection limits for copper in sea water were as low as 0.1 ng / ml (i.e. 0.1 ppb).

Wei et al. Talanta 2015 (link)

Highly magnetic TurboBeads were shown to adsorb Au ions at high efficiencies. This effect is based on the strong affinity between the carbon surface of the nanoparticles and the precious metal ions and is assisted by the reductive properties of the particles. Rossier et al. added Turbobeads to an aqueous gold solution. The gold ions were reduced to Au(0) in the proximity of the particles, deposited on the particle surface and could be removed magnetically. The system showed a high yield down to initial Au concentrations in the ppb level. In a second step the gold could be released from the particles by washing them in aqua regia displaying the possibility of recycling the magnetic TurboBeads.

Rossier et al. J. Mater. Chem. 2009 (link)

Highly magnetic carbon coated Fe-based core TurboBeads were functionlized by Koehler et al. with ethylenediaminetatraacetic acid (EDTA) similar chelator groups (DTPA). These chelating agents are known for their excelent binding properties to heavy metals. Here, the performance of functionalized TurboBeads to extract Cu, Cd and Pb from aqueous solutions was investigated at various initial concentrations from 1 ppb to 100 ppm.

Koehler et al. Small 2009 (link).