To offset the environmental impact of platinumgroup element (PGE) mining, recycling techniques are being explored. Porous organic polymers (POPs) have shown significant promise owing to their selectivity and ability to withstand harsh conditions. A series of pyridine-based POP nanotraps, POPPy , POP-pNH 2-Py, and POP-oNH 2-Py, have been designed and systematically explored for the capture of palladium, one of the most utilized PGEs. All of the POP nanotraps demonstrated record uptakes and rapid capture, with the amino group shown to be vital in improving performance. Further testing on the POP nanotrap regeneration and selectivity found that POP-oNH 2-Py outperformed POP-pNH 2-Py. Single-crystal X-ray analysis indicated that POP-oNH 2-Py provided a stronger complex compared to POP-pNH 2-Py owing to the intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the amino group and coordinated chlorine molecules. These results demonstrate how slight modifications to adsorbents can maximize their performance. Platinum-group elements (PGEs) are recognized for their unique properties such as corrosion resistance, high melting point, and catalytic qualities. These features have made them economically invaluable, with widespread use in a variety of industrial sectors. Elements in this category, namely platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium, and osmium, are