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Abstract IntroductionWe rely on coastal resources for food, water, and energy. However, over 75% of U.S. coastlines are eroding. Concurrently, the U.S. recycles less glass than other developed countries, landfilling hundreds of millions of tons every year. Recycled glass sand has many potential benefits over natural sand for combatting land loss; for example, it can be produced with controlled particle size to better resist erosion, making it an excellent—and underutilized—material for environmental restoration. ObjectivesThis research compares the physical and chemical properties of recycled glass sand to natural sands (beach and dredge) from the U.S. Gulf Coast to assess environmental safety. MethodsParticle size distribution, angularity, particle and bulk density, compaction, and permeability were evaluated using standard methods. Elemental composition and leaching were analyzed using x‐ray fluorescence and toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP), respectively. ResultsRecycled glass sand is not “sharp,” although it is less well‐rounded than natural sand. Porosity, compaction, and water permeability depend on particle size, and glass sand can be size‐separated to match or complement natural sand. Recycled glass sand is mostly silica. Additional elements used in glass processing are present at acceptable levels, and no leaching of harmful elements is detectable by TCLP. Thermally decomposable residues (e.g. label and adhesive) reliably comprised less than 1% of the material. ConclusionsThe characteristics of recycled glass sand make it a good resource for environmental restoration. 

A unique morphology for bent-core liquid crystals forming the B4 phase has been found for a class of tris-biphenyl bent-core liquid crystal molecules with a single chiral side chain in the longer para -side of the molecule. Unlike the parent molecules with two chiral side chains or a chiral side chain in the shorter meta -side, which form helical nano- or microfilament B4 phases, the two derivatives described here form heliconical-layered nanocylinders composed of up to 10 coaxial heliconical layers, which can split or merge, braid, and self-assemble into a variety of modes including feather- or herringbone-type structures, concentric rings, or hollow nest-like superstructures. These multi-level hierarchical self-assembled structures, rivaling muscle fibers, display blue structural color and show immense structural and morphological complexity.