In this work, chitosan (CS) functionalized polyaniline-polypyrrole (Pani-Ppy) copolymer (CS/Pani-Ppy) was synthesized applying a facile one pot method for the enhanced adsorption of Zn(II) and antimicrobial activity for E. coli and E. agglomerans. The synthesized materials were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform inferred spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The adsorption of the Zn(II) on the synthesized materials was highly dependent on the pH of the solution, the initial metal ion concentration, and temperature. The adsorption of Zn(II) on the studied materials was as follows: CS/Pani-Ppy > Pani-Ppy > Ppy > Pani > CS. The results reveal that adsorption of Zn(II) follows the Langmuir adsorption isotherm, and that chemisorption occurs through pendant and bridging interactions, with active adsorbent sites. Thermodynamic results show the adsorption is spontaneous and exothermic in nature. The synthesized materials show excellent antimicrobial activity against E. coli and E. agglomerans bacterial organisms, and an approximately 100% decline in the viability of both strains was observed with CS/Pani-Ppy and Pani-Ppy. The order of antimicrobial activity for the synthesized materials was as follows: CS/Ppy-Pani > Ppy-Pani > Ppy > Pani > CS. The results show that the greater activity of CS/Ppy-Pani resulted from the electrostatic interaction between positively charged amine groups and negatively charged bacteria. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.