This work is devoted to the synthesis of different semiconductor nanoparticles and their metal core–shell nanocomposites such as TiO2, Au/TiO2, ZnO, and Au/ZnO. The morphology and crystal structures of the developed nanomaterials were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD). These materials were used as catalysts for the photodegradation of malathion, which is one of the most commonly used pesticides in developing countries. The degradation of 10 ppm malathion under ultraviolet (UV) and visible light in the presence of different synthesized nanocomposites was analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and UV–visible spectra. A comprehensive study was carried out for the catalytic efficiency of the prepared nanoparticles. Moreover, the effects of different factors that could influence catalytic photodegradation, such as different light sources, surface coverage and the nature of the organic contaminants, were investigated. The results indicate that the core–shell nanocomposite of semiconductor–gold serves as a better catalytic system than the semiconductor nanoparticles themselves.

Female catfish, Clarias gariepinus, which were collected from the Nile River at Assiut region, were divided into 7 groups The first group was left as control, the second was treated with mercuric chloride (MC) for three weeks following by normal water for one week. The third , fourth and fifth groups were provided by MC (150 µg/ L of water). This treatment was continued for three weeks. Then these fish were received CN instead of MC, for one week, with 15 and 25 mg CN respectively / 100 g wet food. The fifth fish group received diet supplemented with vit E (α-tocopherol) (100 mg/kg wet diet), for one week, instead of MC treatment. Vitamin E was used as standard antioxidant drug. Following three weeks of normal ambient water, the sixth and seventh aquaria received only CN for one week, with 15 and 25 mg CN respectively / 100 g wet food, respectively. At the end of the experiment, Samples of liver, kidneys (posterior part), gills (right gills) and ovary were excised. The measurement included the oxidative stress parameters: carbonyl protein and total peroxide and the antioxidant enzyme activities superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione-s-transferase (GST) in all selected organs. MC treatment induced harmful effect in fish, probably due to its enhancing effect on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in fish organs especially the respiratory and osmoregulatory organs namely gills. The result suggests that this gill damage may exert hypoxic case, anoxia for different organs and some Cu excretion resulting in a magnification of ROS overproduction. Also, the observed oxidative stress in ovary tissue of MC-treated fish may affect fish fertility. The addition of CN in fish diets could protect the fish C. gariepinus against MC-induced oxidative damage showing recovery of fish organs. It could suggest that the detoxifying mechanism of action of CN is mainly due to its scavenging activity of free radicals rather than tissue healing.

The pyrazolone derivative 4 was synthesized by reaction of carbohydrazide 2 with ethyl benzoylacetate in ethanol and p-toluene sulphonic acid followed by cyclization upon heating in acetic acid. Chloroacylation of amino ester and amino benzoyl compounds 1, 19 gave the chloro acetylamino derivatives 5 and 20 respectively which both of them react with different amines to afford compounds 6, 23a-d. Hydrolysis and decarboxlation of compound 1 yielded the aminothienotetrahydroisoquinoline 8 which was used as versatile material for synthesizing other heterocyclic compounds 9-18. Compound 20 react with hexamethylenetetramine and malononitrile yielded thediazepino and pyrrolo derivatives 21, 22 respectively.

The pyrazolone derivative 4 was synthesized by reaction of carbohydrazide 2 with ethyl benzoylacetate in ethanol and p-toluene sulphonic acid followed by cyclization upon heating in acetic acid. Chloroacylation of amino ester and amino benzoyl compounds 1, 19 gave the chloro acetylamino derivatives 5 and 20 respectively which both of them react with different amines to afford compounds 6, 23a-d. Hydrolysis and decarboxlation of compound 1 yielded the aminothienotetrahydroisoquinoline 8 which was used as versatile material for synthesizing other heterocyclic compounds 9-18. Compound 20 react with hexamethylenetetramine and malononitrile yielded thediazepino and pyrrolo derivatives 21, 22 respectively.

The pyrazolone derivative 4 was synthesized by reaction of carbohydrazide 2 with ethyl benzoylacetate in ethanol and p-toluene sulphonic acid followed by cyclization upon heating in acetic acid. Chloroacylation of amino ester and amino benzoyl compounds 1, 19 gave the chloro acetylamino derivatives 5 and 20 respectively which both of them react with different amines to afford compounds 6, 23a-d. Hydrolysis and decarboxlation of compound 1 yielded the aminothienotetrahydroisoquinoline 8 which was used as versatile material for synthesizing other heterocyclic compounds 9-18. Compound 20 react with hexamethylenetetramine and malononitrile yielded thediazepino and pyrrolo derivatives 21, 22 respectively.

In a detailed investigation of the lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, mineralogy and geochemistry of the stratigraphic interval spanning the Danian/Selandian (D/S) transition about 16 m within the Dakhla Shale exposed at Gabal el-Qreiya has been examined and collected. Litho - stratigraphically, the part of the Gabal el-Qreiya section under investigation is mainly composed of grey shale and encompasses the D/S boundary. There is a marker bed (~30 cm thick) represents the D/S boundary at Gabal el-Qreiya that consists of four alternating black and brownish organic-rich shale bands (~5-12 cm thick each) sandwiched between two thick grey shale beds. We formally describe this interval as the el-Qreiya Bed, which has been recognized in several localities elsewhere in Egypt. The sediments of the el-Qreiya Bed are very similar to those in the lower part of the earliest Eocene Dababiya Beds in Egypt, which include thinly laminated, phosphatic (fish debris), organic-rich and extremely pyritic shales. The organic debris is noticed as amorphous organic matter and woody fragments. Biostratigraphically, the succession is subdivided into six planktic foraminiferal biozones, documenting a case of continuous sedimentation during the D/S transition. These biozones are: The Danian Praemurica uncinata (P2), Morozovella angulata (P3a) and Igorina albeari/P. carinata (lower most part of P3b) biozones and the Selandian I. albeari (main part of P3b) and Globanomalina pseudomenardii (P4a) biozones. The basal surface of the el-Qreiya Bed is marked by the last appearance of Praemurica carinata (El Naggar) and is taken to mark the Danian-Selandian boundary. Above the D/S boundary, the planktic foraminiferal taxa of the praemuricids were gradually replaced by morozovellids, acrininids and igorinids. The clay mineralogy analysis of these sediments indicates alternating periods of humid (high kaolinite) and dry (low kaolinite) climatic conditions during the deposition of the el-Qreiya Bed. Geochemical analyses of samples representing the el-Qreiya Bed and the sediments above and below revealed that the sediments of the el-Qreiya Bed are characterized by high anomalies in chalcophile elements. The trace elements are most probably incorporated into the phosphatic components and organic matter. The sediments around el-Qreiya Bed are normal marine sediments deposited in oxic bottom waters. The sediments of el-Qreiya Bed reflect anoxic/euxinic marine environments and deposition in H2S-containing bottom waters rich in organic matter. It is believed that high productivity and upwelling activity were responsible for such conditions and the sedimentological, mineralogical, geochemical and faunal characteristics of the D/S boundary at Gabal el-Qreiya section.