Natural sorbents modified by divalent Cu 2+ - and Zn 2+ - ions and their corresponding antimicrobial activity.

•Granulated activated carbon (GAC) and natural clinoptilolite (CLI) were activated by Cu2+- and Zn2+-ions and tested against E. coli, S. aureus and C. albicans.•The most successful bacteria removal was obtained using Cu/CLI and Cu/GAC against E. coli, while S. aureus and yeast cell inactivation yielded unsatisfactory results for all activated sorbents.•XRD and XPS analysis showed that the antimicrobial efficacy of metal-activated sorbents relates to the surface characteristics of the material.•The disinfection property of sorbents modified by metal ions is determined by their influence on an activated surface (the metal ions immobilized on the surface of the material).