1. A plasma-assisted waste gasification system for converting a waste stream into a synthesis gas, comprising:
a reactor having three zones; a bottom zone for melting the waste stream reaction residues and forming a slag pool, a middle zone higher in elevation than the bottom zone for converting the waste stream into the synthesis gas, and a top zone higher in elevation than both the bottom zone and the middle zone and having at least one plasma arc torch for controlling a temperature of the synthesis gas and composition of the synthesis gas; and
a feed mechanism for introducing the waste stream into the reactor.
2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the bottom zone of the reactor has a smaller cross-sectional area than the middle zone, and wherein the middle zone has a smaller cross-sectional area than the top zone.
3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one plasma arc torch emits a heated process gas stream that is adjusted according to an amount of thermal energy to be introduced into the reactor.
4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the waste stream is introduced into the middle zone of the reactor.
5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the waste stream is preheated before being introduced into the middle zone of the reactor.
6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the waste stream reaction residue is melted in the bottom zone of the reactor by a joule heater or a plasma arc torch.
7. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a gas quench for partially cooling of the synthesis gas from the reactor by mixing with relatively cooler syngas from downstream of the gas quench.
8. A system according to claim 7, further comprising a heat exchanger located downstream of the gas quench for extracting thermal energy from the synthesis gas.
9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the waste stream is preheated before being introduced into the middle zone of the reactor by the thermal energy extracted from the heat exchanger.
10. A system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one plasma arc torch is controlled in real-time to control the temperature and composition of the synthesis gas in the top zone.
11. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of feed mechanisms.
12. A system according to claim 11, wherein one of the feed mechanisms is capable of being removed during system operation.
13. A system according to claim 1, wherein the waste stream is introduced into the reactor through multiple ports.
14. A system according to claim 1, wherein the feed mechanism comprises a screw feed mechanism.
15. A system according to claim 14, wherein the screw feed mechanism comprises a twin screw feed mechanism.
16. A system according to claim 1, wherein the feed mechanism comprises a plunge feed mechanism.
17. A system according to claim 1, further comprising an air separation unit for providing air, oxygen, oxygen enriched air, steam, andor carbon dioxide to the reactor through multiple ports and used as gasification agents.
18. A system according to claim 17, wherein a ratio of oxygen to fuel is in a range between about 0.5 to about 1.5.
19. A system according to claim 1, wherein relatively cooler fluid is used to quench the synthesis gas from the reactor during startup conditions.
20. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a power generation unit, wherein the synthesis gas is used in the power generation unit to generate electrical power.
21. A reactor for a plasma-assisted waste gasification system, comprising:
a bottom zone for melting a waste stream reaction residues and forming a slag pool;
a middle zone higher in elevation than the bottom zone for converting the waste stream into the synthesis gas; and
a top zone higher in elevation than both the bottom zone and the middle zone and having at least one plasma arc torch for controlling a temperature and composition of the synthesis gas.
22. A reactor according to claim 21, wherein the bottom zone has a smaller cross-sectional area than the middle zone, and wherein the middle zone has a smaller cross-sectional area than the top zone.
23. A reactor according to claim 21, wherein the at least one plasma arc torch emits a heated process gas stream that is adjusted according to an amount of thermal energy to be introduced into the reactor.
24. A reactor according to claim 21, wherein the waste stream is introduced into the middle zone of the reactor.
25. A reactor according to claim 24, wherein the waste stream is preheated before being introduced into the middle zone of the reactor.
26. A reactor according to claim 21, further comprising a joule heater or a plasma arc torch for heating the waste stream in the bottom zone of the reactor.
27. A reactor according to claim 21, wherein the at least one plasma arc torch is controlled in real-time to control the temperature and composition of the synthesis gas in the top zone.
28. A reactor according to claim 21, wherein air, oxygen, oxygen enriched air, steam, andor carbon dioxide are used as gasification agents.
29. A reactor according to claim 28, wherein a ratio of oxygen to fuel is in a range between about 0.5 to about 1.5.
30. A method for converting a waste stream into a synthesis gas in a plasma-assisted waste gasification system, the method comprising the steps of:
introducing a waste stream into a reactor;
melting the waste stream reaction residues and forming a slag pool in a bottom zone of the reactor;
converting the waste stream into the synthesis gas in a middle zone of the reactor, the middle zone higher in elevation than the bottom zone; and
controlling a temperature and composition of the synthesis gas in a top zone of the reactor, the top zone higher in elevation than both the bottom zone and the middle zone.
31. A method according to claim 30, wherein the temperature and composition of the synthesis gas is controlled in the top zone of the reactor by using at least one plasma arc torch.
32. A method according to claim 31, wherein the at least one plasma arc torch emits a heated process gas stream that is adjusted according to an amount of thermal energy to be introduced into the reactor.
33. A method according to claim 30, wherein the waste stream is introduced into the middle zone of the reactor.
34. A method according to claim 33, further comprising the step of preheating the waste stream before being introduced into the middle zone of the reactor.
35. A method according to claim 30, wherein the waste stream reaction residues are melted in the bottom zone of the reactor by using a joule heater or a plasma arc torch.
36. A method according to claim 30, further comprising the step of partially cooling the synthesis gas from the reactor using a gas quench.
37. A method according to claim 36, further comprising the step of extracting thermal energy from the synthesis gas downstream of the gas quench using a heat exchanger.
38. A method according to claim 37, wherein the waste stream is preheated before being introduced into the reactor by thermal energy extracted from the heat exchanger.
39. A method according to claim 30, wherein the temperature of the synthesis gas in the top zone of the reactor is controlled in real-time.
40. A method according to claim 30, further comprising the step of introducing oxygen, oxygen enriched air, steam, andor carbon dioxide as a gasification agent into the reactor.
41. A method according to claim 40, wherein a ratio of oxygen to fuel is in a range between about 0.5 to about 1.5.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method of inhibiting effective binding of a chemokine to its cellular receptor, comprising contacting a cellular population with an effective amount of a compound having the following structure:
wherein:
R1 to R11 are independently H, a halogen, hydroxy, amino, alkoxy having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, benzoyloxy, R14C(O)O, where R14 is H or C1\u2013C5 alkyl; COOH or a salt thereof, SO3H or a salt thereof, PO3H2 or a salt thereof, C1\u2013C24 alkyl, COOR15 where R15 is aryl or C1\u2013C5 alkyl; SO3R16, where R16 is aryl or C1\u2013C5 alkyl; C(O)NR17R18 where R17 and R18 are each independently H, C1\u2013C5 alkyl, aryl, or hydroxy; SO2NR19R20 where R19 and R20 are each independently H, C1\u2013C5 alkyl, or aryl; SR21 where R21 is C1\u2013C5 alkyl or aryl; SCH2R25, where R25 is aryl; SC(O)R21 where R21 is as defined above; NR22R23 where R22 and R23 are each independently H, C1\u2013C5 alkyl, or aryl; NHC(O)\u2014R24, where R24 is aryl optionally substituted with COOH or a salt thereof, or C1\u2013C7 alkoxy; O(CH2)n\u2014R26\u2014R27, where n is 1 to 7, R26 is aryl, R27 is COOH or a salt thereof, B(OH)2 or a salt thereof, nitro, C1\u2013C7 alkoxy, or aryl wherein the aryl of R27 is substituted with COOH or a salt thereof, B(OH)2 or a salt thereof, nitro, or C1\u2013C7 alkoxy; OC(O)NHCH(R28)COOR29 or C(O)NHCH(R28)COOR29, wherein R28 is an amino acid side chain and R29 is H or a C1\u2013C4 alkyl;
R12 and R13 are C1\u2013C7 alkyl;
X is a (C1\u2013C7 alkylene) or (C1\u2013C7 alkylene)C(O)NH;
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said cellular population comprises immune system cells.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein R1, R5, R6, and R10 are H, R2 and R7 are chlorine, R11 is CH(CH3)(CH2)3CH(CH3)2, R12 and R13 are methyl, and X is C\u2550CH(CH2)2.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein R3 and R8 are hydroxy, and R4 and R9 are COOH or a salt thereof.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein R3 and R8 are O(CH2)n\u2014R26\u2014R27, where n is 1, R26 is phenyl, R27 is selected from the group consisting of aryl, nitro, COOH or a salt thereof, B(OH)2 or a salt thereof, C1\u2013C7 alkoxy, and combinations thereof, where the aryl of R27 is optionally substituted with nitro, COOH or a salt thereof, B(OH)2 or a salt thereof, C1\u2013C7 alkoxy, or combinations thereof.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein R3 and R8 are hydroxy, and R4 and R9 are C(O)NHCH(R28)COOH, where R28 is H, CH2CH(CH3)2, CH2Ph, CH2COOH or a salt thereof, or CH2CH2COOH or a salt thereof.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein said chemokine is selected from the group consisting of a class CXC chemokine and a class CC chemokine.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein said class CC chemokine is RANTES.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein said class CC chemokine is selected from the group consisting of RANTES, MCP-1, MCP-2, MCP-3, MCP-4, eotaxin, MDC, TARC, and HCC-1.
10. The method of claim 7, wherein said class CXC chemokine is selected from the group consisting of PF4, IL-8, GRO-alpha, ENA-78, IP-10, BCA-1, ITAC, and SDF-1.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein chemokine-induced cellular chemotaxis is inhibited.
12. A method of treating an inflammatory disease, the method comprising administering to a patient a therapeutically effective amount of a compound, said amount being sufficient to inhibit binding of a chemokine to its cellular receptor, said compound having the following formula:
wherein
R1 to R11 are independently H, a halogen, hydroxy, amino, alkoxy having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, benzoyloxy, R14C(O)O, where R14 is H or C1\u2013C5 alkyl; COOH or a salt thereof, SO3H or a salt thereof, PO3H2 or a salt thereof, C1\u2013C24 alkyl, COOR15 where R15 is aryl or C1\u2013C5 alkyl; SO3R16, where R16 is aryl or C1\u2013C5 alkyl; C(O)NR17R18 where R17 and R18 are each independently H, C1\u2013C5 alkyl, aryl, or hydroxy; SO2NR19R20 where R19 and R20 are each independently H, C1\u2013C5 alkyl, or aryl; SR21 where R21 is C1\u2013C5 alkyl or aryl; SCH2R25, where R25 is aryl; SC(O)R21 where R21 is as defined above; NR22R23 where R22 and R23 are each independently H, C1\u2013C5 alkyl, or aryl; NHC(O)\u2014R24, where R24 is aryl optionally substituted with COOH or a salt thereof, or C1\u2013C7 alkoxy; O(CH2)n\u2014R26\u2014R27, where n is 1 to 7, R26 is aryl, R27 is COOH or a salt thereof, B(OH)2 or a salt thereof, nitro, C1\u2013C7 alkoxy, or aryl where the aryl of R27 is substituted with COOH or a salt thereof, B(OH)2 or a salt thereof, nitro, or C1\u2013C7 alkoxy; OC(O)NHCH(R28)COOR29 or C(O)NHCH(R28)COOR29, where R28 is an amino acid side chain and R29 is H or a C1\u2013C4 alkyl;
R12 and R13 are C1\u2013C7 alkyl;
X is a (C1\u2013C7 alkylene) or (C1\u2013C7 alkylene)C(O)NH;
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein said cellular population comprises immune system cells.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein R1, R5, R6, and R10 are H, R2 and R7 are chlorine, R11 is CH(CH3)(CH2)3CH(CH3)2, R12 and R13 are methyl, and X is C\u2550CH(CH2)2.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein R3 and R8 are hydroxy, and R4 and R9 are COOH or a salt thereof.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein R3 and R8 are O(CH2)n\u2014R26\u2014R27, where n is 1, R26 is phenyl, R27 is selected from the group consisting of aryl, nitro, COOH or a salt thereof, B(OH)2 or a salt thereof, C1\u2013C7 alkoxy, and combinations thereof, where the aryl of R27 is optionally substituted with nitro, COOH or a salt thereof, B(OH)2 or a salt thereof, C1\u2013C7 alkoxy, or combinations thereof.
17. The method of claim 14, wherein R3 and R8 are hydroxy, and R4 and R9 are C(O)NHCH(R28)COOH, where R28 is H, CH2CH(CH3)2, CH2Ph, CH2COOH or a salt thereof, or CH2CH2COOH or a salt thereof.
18. The method of claim 12, wherein said chemokine is selected from the group consisting of a class CXC chemokine and a class CC chemokine.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein said class CC chemokine is RANTES.
20. The method of claim 18, wherein said class CC chemokine is selected from the group consisting of RANTES, MCP-1, MCP-2, MCP-3, MCP-4, eotaxin, MDC, TARC, and HCC-1.
21. The method of claim 18, wherein said class CXC chemokine is selected from the group consisting of PF4, IL-8, GRO-alpha, ENA-78, IP-10, BCA-1, ITAC, and SDF-1.
22. A compound having the formula:
wherein
R1 to R11 are independently H, a halogen, hydroxy, amino, alkoxy having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, benzoyloxy, R14C(O)O, where R14 is H or C1\u2013C5 alkyl; COOH or a salt thereof, SO3H or a salt thereof, PO3H2 or a salt thereof, C1\u2013C24 alkyl, COOR15 where R15 is aryl or C1\u2013C5 alkyl; SO3R16, where R16 is aryl or C1\u2013C5 alkyl; C(O)NR17R18 where R17 and R18 are each independently H, C1\u2013C5 alkyl, aryl, or hydroxy; SO2NR19R20 where R19 and R20 are each independently H, C1\u2013C5 alkyl, or aryl; SR21 where R21 is C1\u2013C5 alkyl or aryl; SCH2R25, where R25 is aryl; SC(O)R21 where R21 is as defined above; NR22R23 where R22 and R23 are each independently H, C1\u2013C5 alkyl, or aryl; NHC(O)\u2014R24, where R24 is aryl optionally substituted with COOH or a salt thereof, or C1\u2013C7 alkoxy; O(CH2)n\u2014R26\u2014R27, where n is 1 to 7, R26 is aryl, R27 is COOH or a salt thereof, B(OH)2 or a salt thereof, nitro, C1\u2013C7 alkoxy, or aryl wherein the aryl of R27 is substituted with COOH or a salt thereof, B(OH)2 or a salt thereof, nitro, or C1\u2013C7 alkoxy; OC(O)NHCH(R28)COOR29 or C(O)NHCH(R28)COOR29, where R28 is an amino acid side chain and R29 is H or a C1\u2013C4 alkyl;
R12 and R13 are C1\u2013C7 alkyl;
X is a (C1\u2013C7 alkylene) or (C1\u2013C7 alkylene)C(O)NH;
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof;
provided that at least one of R4 and R9 is C(O)NHCH(R28)COOR29 or at least one of R3 and R8 is O(CH2)n\u2014R26\u2014R27.
23. The compound of claim 22, wherein at least one of R4 and R9 is C(O)NHCH(R28)COOR29, where R28 is an amino acid side chain and R29 is H or a C1\u2013C4 alkyl.
24. The compound of claim 23, wherein R1, R5, R6, and R10 are H, R2 and R7 are chlorine, R11 is CH(CH3)(CH2)3CH(CH3)2, R12 and R13 are methyl, and X is C\u2550CH(CH2)2.
25. The compound of claim 24, wherein R3 and R8 are hydroxy, and R4 and R9 are C(O)NHCH(R28)COOH, where R28 is H, CH2CH(CH3)2, CH2Ph, CH2COOH or a salt thereof, and CH2CH2COOH or a salt thereof.
26. The compound of claim 22, wherein at least one of R3 and R8 is O(CH2)n\u2014R26\u2014R27, where n is 1 to 7, R26 is aryl, R27 is COOH or a salt thereof, B(OH)2 or a salt thereof, nitro, C1\u2013C7 alkoxy, or aryl where the aryl of R27 is substituted with COOH or a salt thereof, B(OH)2 or a salt thereof, nitro, or C1\u2013C7 alkoxy.
27. The compound of claim 26, wherein R1, R5, R6, and R10 are H, R2 and R7 are chlorine, R11 is CH(CH3)(CH2)3CH(CH3)2, R12 and R13 are methyl, and X is C\u2550CH(CH2)2.
28. The compound of claim 27, wherein R3 and R8 are O(CH2)n\u2014R26\u2014R27, where n is 1, R26 is phenyl, R27 is selected from the group consisting of aryl, nitro, COOH or a salt thereof, B(OH)2 or a salt thereof, C1\u2013C7 alkoxy, and combinations thereof, where the aryl of R27 is optionally substituted with nitro, COOH or a salt thereof, B(OH)2 or a salt thereof, C1\u2013C7 alkoxy, or combinations thereof.
29. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound according to claim 22 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient, or diluent therefor.
30. The method of claim 5, wherein the contacting step includes contacting the cellular population with an effective amount of the compound where R4 and R9 are COOH or a salt thereof, and R27 is COOH or a salt thereof.
31. The method of claim 16, wherein administering step includes administering to a patient a therapeutically effective amount of the compound where R4 and R9 are COOH or a salt thereof, and R27 is COOH or a salt thereof.
32. The compound of claim 28, wherein R4 and R9 are COOH or a salt thereof, and R27 is COOH or a salt thereof.