The removal capacity of two biological sorbents yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Shewanella xiamenensis biofilm placed on zeolite for treatment of zinc-containing electroplating effluents was evaluated. Biosorbents were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared analysis (FTIR) and neutron activation analysis. The removal of metal ions from synthetic effluents was studied as a function of pH, interaction time, zinc concentration and temperature. Characterization of biosorption equilibrium was evaluated employing the Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin models. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were suitable to describe Zn(II) biosorption onto Saccharomyces cerevisiae with qm values in the range 8.99-17 mg/g. Maximum sorptiоn capacity of Shewanella xiamenensis biofilm placed on zeolite calculated frоm Langmuir mоdel changed from 3.4 to 6.5 mg/g. High values of the coefficient of determination calculated for pseudo-second-order and the Elovich models indicate the predominant role of chemisorption in metal remоval by both sorbents. According to the thermodynamic parameters, the biosorption was described as a spontaneous process. The highest efficiency of removal of Zn(II) ions from complex real effluent by yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was achieved in a two-stage subsequent system with the addition of new biosorbent: 20 g/L of biosorbent at the first stage and 10 g/L of sorbent on the second stage at pH 6.0 and contact time 60 min. By varying the Shewanella xiamenensis biofilm placed on zeolite dosage in two stages it was possible to remove from 58 to 85% of Zn(II) from the effluent. Yeast S. cerevisiae showed has proven to be a good candidate for the treatment of zinccontaining complex effluents.