To calculate the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere from the combustion of diesel fuel, we need to know the carbon content of diesel and the combustion reaction that takes place during its use. The carbon content of diesel is approximately 86% by weight. When diesel is combusted, it reacts with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapor (H2O).
The balanced chemical equation for the combustion of diesel is:
C12H23 + 18.5O2 → 12CO2 + 11H2O
From this equation, we can see that for every mole of diesel combusted, 12 moles of CO2 are produced.
Assuming that all the diesel consumed in a day is combusted, we can calculate the amount of CO2 produced as follows:
1 liter of diesel has a mass of approximately 0.832 kg (source: US Department of Energy). Therefore, the total mass of diesel consumed in a day is approximately:
900,739,140 liters x 0.832 kg/liter = 749,146,462.88 kg
The amount of CO2 produced by combusting this amount of diesel can be calculated as follows:
(749,146,462.88 kg x 0.86) / 12 = 53,239,180.41 kg of CO2
Therefore, the combustion of 900,739,140 liters of diesel per day would release approximately 53.2 million grams (or 53.2 thousand kilograms or 53.2 metric tons) of CO2 into the atmosphere.
To determine the number of trees required to offset the CO2 emitted from the combustion of diesel, we need to consider several factors, such as the type of trees, their growth rate, and the length of time they will sequester carbon.
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a single tree can absorb an average of 21.77 kg of CO2 per year. Based on this figure, we can estimate the number of trees required to offset the 53.2 thousand kilograms of CO2 emitted per day as follows:
Number of trees = (53,239,180.41 kg of CO2 per day) / (21.77 kg of CO2 per tree per year)
Number of trees = 2,444,679 trees
Therefore, we would need to plant approximately 2.4 million trees, assuming they are able to sequester carbon indefinitely and can grow fast enough to absorb the carbon emitted from the diesel fuel combustion. It is important to note that this is a very rough estimate, as factors such as tree species, location, and growth rate can significantly impact the actual amount of carbon sequestered. Additionally, planting trees alone may not be sufficient to address the climate crisis, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions through sustainable practices and alternative energy sources remains a critical component of mitigating climate change.