Patent ID: 8227365

Claim:
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: M 1 1-x-jy-mz M 2 kx Zr VI 4-y A y P IV 6-z B z O 24 wherein M 1 is at least one divalent alkaline earth cation; wherein M 2 represents ionic-substitution of the M 1 sites, wherein M 2 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 M 2 is a divalent cation; wherein k=2 if M 2 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.