Biocidal ceramic compositions, methods and articles of manufacture

A biocidal ceramic composition for use in microbe-destroying applications, the ceramic composition comprising an effective amount of a bioactive agent that is chemically-bound in a single-phase, crystalline, [NZP]-type structure, the biocidal ceramic composition represented by the following general chemical formula:

• M11-x-jy-mzM2kxZrVI4-yAyPIV6-zBzO24
• wherein M1 is at least one divalent alkaline earth cation;
• wherein M2 represents ionic-substitution of the M1 sites, wherein M2 is at least one bio-active cation;
• wherein 0<x≦1;
• wherein 0≦y≦4;
• wherein 0≦z≦6;
• wherein (jy+mz)<(1−x)
• wherein k=1 if M2 is a divalent cation;
• wherein k=2 if M2 is a monovalent cation;
• wherein A represents ionic-substitution of Zr sites,
• wherein j=0.5 if A is pentavalent cation;
• wherein j=0 if A is tetravalent cation;
• wherein j=−0.5 if A is trivalent cation;
• wherein B represents ionic-substitution of P sites,
• wherein m=0.5 if B is hexavalent cation;
• wherein m=0 if B is pentavalent cation;
• wherein m=−0.5 if B is tetravalent cation;
• and
• wherein m=−1 if B is trivalent cation.