METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ACTIVATED CARBON MASTER LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OPERATION
Operation of a business that is involved in the preparation or supply of pollutant capture sorbent products within a master limited partnership (MLP) structure is facilitated by the methods, systems and computer program products described herein. In one embodiment, a method for operating a business involving carbon-based mercury capture sorbent product may include performing at least one processing or supply activity in connection with preparing or supplying mercury capture sorbent product comprising sorbent particles with a porous carbonaceous structure comprising carbon from coal, receiving revenue as a consequence of performing the at least one activity, and distributing at least a portion of the revenue to at least one MLP unit holder pursuant to provisions of a MLP agreement.
1 . A method for operating a business involving carbon-based mercury capture sorbent product, the method comprising:
performing at least one processing or supply activity in connection with preparing or supplying mercury capture sorbent product comprising sorbent particles with a porous carbonaceous structure comprising carbon from coal;
receiving revenue as a consequence of performing the at least one activity; and
distributing at least a portion of the revenue to at least one master limited partnership unit holder pursuant to provisions of a master limited partnership agreement.
2 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the porous carbonaceous structure comprises activated carbon made by processing including devolatilization and activation of coal feed.
3 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the sorbent particles comprise a mercury oxidation enhancement additive supported on the porous carbonaceous structure.
4 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the sorbent product comprises from 20 weight percent to 75 weight percent fixed carbon of the porous carbonaceous structure and from 20 weight percent to 50 weight percent non-carbon minerals.
5 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one activity comprises bulk sale of the sorbent product.
6 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one activity comprises making the porous carbonaceous structure from processing coal feed, the processing comprising devolatilization and activation of the coal feed.
7 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one activity comprises adding an additive to a composition comprising porous particles including the porous carbonaceous structure.
8 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the additive comprises a mercury oxidation enhancement additive.
9 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one activity comprises supporting a chemical additive on the porous carbonaceous structure.
10 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one activity comprises mixing a particulate additive with porous particles including the porous carbonaceous structure.
11 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one activity comprises transportation of the sorbent product.
12 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one activity comprises transloading the sorbent product.
13 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one activity comprises storing the sorbent product.
14 . A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
performing at least one ancillary service that is not a processing or supply activity in connection with preparing or supplying the mercury capture sorbent product;
receiving ancillary service revenue as a consequence of performing the at least one ancillary service; and
not distributing any portion of the ancillary service revenue to a unit holder of the master limited partnership pursuant the master limited partnership agreement.
15 . A method according to claim 14 , wherein the at least one processing or supply activity is performed by a first business entity and the ancillary service is performed by a second business entity.
16 . A method according to claim 14 , wherein the at least one ancillary service comprises an activity selected from the group consisting of testing performance of mercury capture efficacy of a mercury capture sorbent product and providing consultation in relation to use of a mercury capture sorbent product.
17 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein said distributing comprises:
storing financial data of the business on at least one data storage device, the financial data characterizing amounts of revenue received as a consequence of performing the at least one activity and dates of receipt of the amounts of revenue; and
processing the financial data with at least one processor enabled to retrieve the financial data from the at least one data storage device and to calculate the at least a portion of the revenue to be distributed to at least one master limited partnership unit holder pursuant to provisions of the master limited partnership agreement.
18 . The method according to claim 17 wherein the at least one processor calculates the at least a portion of revenue to be distributed by applying provisions of the master limited partnership agreement implemented as a set of logical rules expressed in computer readable program code executable by the at least one processor.
19 . A system facilitating operation of a business involving carbon-based mercury capture sorbent product, the system comprising:
a processor; and
a memory logically connected to the processor and comprising a set of computer readable instructions executable by the processor to:
track the receipt of revenue received by the business as a consequence of performing at least one activity, the at least one activity comprising a processing or supply activity performed in connection with preparing or supplying mercury capture sorbent product comprising sorbent particles with a porous carbonaceous structure comprising carbon from coal; and
calculate at least a portion of the revenue to be distributed to at least one master limited partnership unit holder pursuant to provisions of a master limited partnership agreement.
20 . A computer program product usable by a business involving carbon-based mercury capture sorbent product, the computer program product comprising:
a non-transitory computer useable medium having computer program code embodied therein, the computer program code including:
computer readable program code enabling a processor to track the receipt of revenue received by the business as a consequence of performing at least one activity, the at least one activity comprising a processing or supply activity performed in connection with preparing or supplying mercury capture sorbent product comprising sorbent particles with a porous carbonaceous structure comprising carbon from coal; and
computer readable program code enabling a processor to calculate at least a portion of the revenue to be distributed to at least one master limited partnership unit holder pursuant to provisions of a master limited partnership agreement.