The presented study proposes an efficient utilization of a common Thymus serpyllum L. (wild thyme) plant as a highly potent biosorbent of Cu(II) and Pb(II) ions and the efficient interaction of the copper-laden plant with two opportunistic bacteria. Apart from biochars that are commonly used for adsorption, here we report the direct use of native plant, which is potentially interesting also for soil remediation. The highest adsorption capacity for Cu(II) and Pb(II) ions (qe = 12.66 and 53.13 mg g-1, respectively) was achieved after 10 and 30 min of adsorption, respectively. Moreover, the Cu-laden plant was shown to be an efficient antibacterial agent against the bacteria Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, the results being slightly better in the former case. Such an activity is enabled only via the interaction of the adsorbed ions effectively distributed within the biological matrix of the plant with bacterial cells. Thus, the sustainable resource can be used both for the treatment of wastewater and, after an effective embedment of metal ions, for the fight against microbes.

Central European Institute of Technology Brno University of Technology Purkyňova 656 123 612 00 Brno Czech Republic

Chair of Building Materials and Construction Chemistry Technische Universität Berlin Gustav Meyer Allee 25 13355 Berlin Germany

Faculty of Chemical Technology and Engineering The West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin Piastów Avenue 42 71 065 Szczecin Poland

Faculty of Mathematics and Physics Charles University Ke Karlovu 3 121 16 Prague 2 Czech Republic

Institute of Biology University of Szczecin ul Wąska 13 71 415 Szczecin Poland

Institute of Geotechnics Slovak Academy of Sciences Watsonova 45 040 01 Košice Slovakia

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