A silica gel based sorbent containing rhodanine as functional group (RDSG) was prepared. Its adsorption and separation characteristics for Ag(I), Au(III) and Pd(II) were studied by flow-injection (FI) on-line preconcentration. Influence of different experimental parameters such as acidity, eluent, co-existing ions were investigated. Trace amounts of Ag, Au and Pd could be efficiently adsorbed by rhodanine-bonded silica gel from acidic solution and eluted with thiourea solution. Common co-existing ions exhibited virtually no interference to the preconcentration and determination. The adsorption capacity of RDSG was 0.0352, 0.107 and 0.122 mmol/g for Ag, Au and Pd, respectively. Detection limits of 0.004, 0.022 and 0.019 microg/mL for Ag, Au and Pd, respectively, were achieved with a sampling time of 60 s at a flow rate of 5.0 mL/min. The relative standard deviation were 0.5%, 0.9% and 1.7% for 0.040 microg/mL Ag, 0.200 microg/mL Au and 0.300 microg/mL Pd. The sorption property did not change after 1,000 cycles of sorption-desorption. The contents of Ag and Au in three national certified ore samples and Pd in a secondary nickel alloy, an anode slime and a CoCl2 electrolytic solution were determined. The results showed good agreement with the certified values.