As the demand for the reduction of global emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) increases, the need for anthropogenic CO₂ emission reductions becomes urgent. One promising technology to this end, is carbon capture and storage (CCS). This paper aims to provide the current state-of-the-art of CO₂ capure, transport, and storage and focuses on mineral carbonation, a novel method for safe and permanent CO₂ sequestration which is based on the reaction of CO₂ with calcium or magnesium oxides or hydroxides to form stable carbonate materials. Current commercial scale projects of CCS around Europe are outlined, demonstrating that only three of them are in operation, and twenty-one of them are in pilot phase, including the only one case of mineral carbonation in Europe the case of CarbFix in Iceland. This paper considers the necessity of CO₂ sequestration in Greece as emissions of about 64.6 million tons of CO₂ annually, originate from the lignite fired power plants. A real case study concerning the mineral storage of CO₂ in Greece has been conducted, demonstrating the applicability of several geological forms around Greece for mineral carbonation. The study indicates that Mount Pindos ophiolite and Vourinos ophiolite complex could be a promising means of CO₂ sequestration with mineral carbonation. Further studies are needed in order to confirm this aspect.

The air-pollution control system of a lead-acid-battery recycling industry was studied. The system comprised two streams with gravity settlers followed by filter bags for the factory indoor air and the metal-recycling furnace, respectively. Efficiency in particle removal according to mass was found to be 99.91%. Moreover, filter bags and dust from the gravity settlers were analyzed for heavy metals by Wavelength Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence. The results showed high concentrations of Pb and Na in all cases. In the filter bag samples from the indoor atmosphere stream, Ca, Cu, Fe, and Al were found in concentrations higher than that in the filter bag samples from the furnace stream. The opposite was found for Na. Tl and K were only found in furnace stream bag filters. The elemental concentration of the dust from the furnace fumes stream contained mainly Fe, Na, Cd, Pb, Sb, and Cl, while the indoor main stream contained mainly P, Fe, Na, Pb, and Sb. In all cases, impurities of Nd, Ni, Rb, Sr, Th, Hg, and Bi were found. The high efficiency of the air-pollution control system in particle removal shows that a considerable reduction in emissions was achieved.

Sun photometer measurements over the Thessaloniki AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) site were conducted during 2005–2007 and provide a method for determining the temporal variability of aerosol optical properties. Monthly mean aerosol optical thickness (AOT) showed higher values during the warmer months and lower values during the colder months. The single scattering albedo (SSA) and also the imaginary part of the refractive index (k) indicate more absorbing particles during autumn/winter than summer/spring. Aerosol direct radiative forcing measurements are also presented. The monthly change in aerosol radiative forcing was examined at the top of the atmosphere (TOA; from −8.0 to −28.0 W m⁻²), at the bottom of the atmosphere (BOA; from −19.0 to −55.0 W m⁻²) and within the atmosphere (ATM; from 11.0 to 35.0 W m⁻²); the ATM is affected by both the SSA and k. We also investigated the interaction between aerosol optical properties over Thessaloniki and cloud parameters over a region of the Northern Aegean. For the autumn and spring mean monthly values, high correlation coefficients were found between AOT and cloud fraction, the SSA and cloud fraction, AOT and cloud condensation nuclei per square centimetre (CCN/cm²), and cloud optical depth and AOT, and finally a negative correlation was found between AOT and cloud effective radius.

Direct aerosol radiative forcing (ARF) and cloud radiative forcing (CRF) over the Aegean Sea are investigated using 1 year of almost continuous observations of aerosol optical properties, cloud data and Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) satellite short-wave (SW) and long-wave (LW) fluxes during 2005–2006. Aerosol optical depth (AOD) values from moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) over the Aegean Sea are found to be high during summer and spring months. This period of the year, the air masses come predominantly from the eastern and northeastern part of Europe. The monthly mean ARF at the top of the atmosphere (TOA) over the Aegean Sea resulted in net cooling and ranged from −6.0 to −15.8 W m⁻², within the range of results from previous studies. The presence of fine particles greatly influenced the ARF. The CRF was also characterized by net cooling and ranged from −23 to −84 W m⁻² and appeared to be driven primarily by changes in cloud fraction. An apparent aerosol weekly cycle with lower values during the weekend as well as a cloud fraction weekly cycle with lower values during the weekend is observed over the Aegean Sea, which, if confirmed, could result in net TOA forcing of around −20 W m⁻².

While the demand in reduction of CO2 increases, the need for CO2 sequestration processes is very high. One promising technology is the Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). In this paper we refer to several papers which study the three main steps in CCS chain. CO2 capture technologies, CO2 transportation to the storage sites and the very critical step the CO2 storage. Recently a novel method (mineral carbonation) for CO2 sequestration has been proposed which is based in the reaction of CO2 with calcium or magnesium oxides or hydroxides to form stable carbonate materials. Greece is a country that emits CO2 mainly from the lignite fired power plant in Western Greece. After the study of the bibliographic references about the use of mineral carbonation process while injecting CO2 in the appropriate geological forms we concluded that there are also these forms in our country and mainly in the area near to the power plant such as in sites Vourinos and Pindos. In these sites exist minerals rich in oxides and hydroxides of Ca, Mg and Fe representing the perfect materials for mineral carbonation.