The current environmental situation has urged researchers to look for alternative green fuels with lower emissions from biomass feedstock. This work aims a greener approach for the heterogeneous catalytic conversion of methanol to dimethyl ether, DME, as an alternative fuel. Thus, a series of phosphorous−containing activated carbon (ACP) derived from orange peel (OP) at different H₃PO₄: OP (w/w) rations, as well as a series of tungsten (W)-loaded on ACP, WO₃/ACP supported catalysts were formed and thermally treated at different temperatures. The formed materials were characterized by XRD, ATR−FTIR, N₂ adsorption/desorption, HRTEM, electron diffraction, EDX, elemental mapping and surface acidity. Effects of H₃PO₄ ratio and treatment temperature on the bulk and surface properties of the produced catalyst/support materials were investigated. Catalytic activities of the ACP support and W-loaded catalysts towards methanol dehydration in the range of 150–400 °C were measured at WHSV of 2.01 h⁻¹ in an inert atmosphere. Improved catalytic performance was observed for ACP support, which further improved for the W-loaded catalysts. This involved increase of methanol conversion (from 67% to 84%), DME formation rate (from 14.6 to 18.3 mmol.h⁻¹), time-on-stream (from < 40 to >120 h) and E_a (from 48.98 to 42.23 kJ mol⁻¹) on moving from ACP support to the most active supported catalyst, respectively. The improvement was attributed to the enhanced textural and thermal stability of the supported catalyst, which places it among the high efficiency catalysts for DME formation.

Geologic investigation on the basement rocks exposed around Wadi Shait revealed that they constitute part of a fold thrust nappes comprising Gardan ophiolitic mélange structural unit (GOM) exposed in a tectonic contact against the Shait granite complex (SGC). Both units are brittly to ductily deformed, and are partially intruded by the calc-alkaline Hamash granodiorite, Dokhan volcanics, post-orogenic alkali granite and the Natash volcanics. Litholgically, the GOM builds up a stack of sliced sequence comprising low-grade regionally metamorphosed epiclastic, volcanogenic pyroclastic, basic and intermediate lava flows and structurally topped by metagabbro and hornblende metagabbro slices. On the other hand, the SGC is composed mainly of mesocratic tonalite, minor leucocratic trondhjemite, granodiorite and monzogranite. The latter occurs as dyke-like masses intruding the outcrops of the other rock varieties. This lithologic association denotes that the SGC constitutes a widely evolved complex in which the early members are deep-seated, calc-alkaline and I-type whereas the later members are shallower and clearly intrusive. Field data revealed that the stacking nature and consequently uplifting of the SGC were related to late orogenic extension associated with shortening phases controlled by Najd transformed faults. Detailed field mapping and petrographic studies carried out on the Wadi Shait area show evidence of polyphase deformation (D1-D4) affecting the SGC in addition to three metamorphic events (M1,M2 and M3) affecting the GOM.

The Upper Cretaceous Sudr Formation at Wadi El Dakhl, West Gulf of Suez (Northeast Egypt) has been described to analyze
the facies and their cycles in conjunction with the influence of sea level and tectonics. The Sudr Formation (~ 130 m thick) is
composed mainly of chalk and chalky limestone, with intercalations of argillaceous limestone and marl. It could be divided
into two members; the Markha of the early–middle Campanian age and Abu Zenima of the late Campanian–Maastrichtian
age. Biostratigraphically, nine planktonic foraminiferal zones have been recorded which encompass the studied section.
Petrographic studies of the Sudr Formation led to identifying five facies types; four carbonate facies and one marl facies. These
facies have been deposited in the environmental conditions of an inner, middle, outer shelf, and open marine basinal setting.
Two types of cyclicity have been identified: shallowing-upward and deepening-upward cycles which indicate a change in
oscillation in the relative sea level. The comparison of the studied sea-level curve with the global curves of Haq et al. (Science 365:1156–1167, 1987) and Haq (Glob Planet Change 113:44–58, 2014) refer to general correspondence between them
in addition to the clear effect of the tectonic events that influenced the obtained sea-level curve of the present study. Three
pronounced tectonic events that impacted the deposition of the studied Sudr Formation were recorded. These tectonics were
operated during the late Santonian, middle Campanian, and late Maastrichtian time intervals. These tectonics are most probably related to the collision of African/Arabian and Eurasia Plates.