Percent Mass Loss Research Articles

Novel Pectin/Chia-Mucilage Membranes: Human Serum Albumin Adsorption, Biocompatibility, and Physical-Chemical Properties

This study aimed to characterize the physical-chemical and biological properties of pectin (PC)/chia seed mucilage (CM) membranes. PC/CM [100/0 (control), 80/20%, 60/40%, and 40/60% w/w] membranes were prepared using the casting method. The membranes (PC/CM) were thin, yellow, lightly opaque (≈10%) and capable of blocking light UVB (between 66 at 52%). SEM analysis showed the presence of aggregates in the shape of a sphere (≈13 µm) and ovoid (≈25 µm). The proportion of 80/20 showed an increase in tensile strength (29%) and elastic modulus (19%) when compared to the control. FTIR analysis exhibited intermolecular interactions between PCPC, PC-CM, and CM-CM in the membranes. The thermal analysis (600°C) showed a slight improvement in the percentage of residual mass-loss of 3.31% (80/20) that control. The 40/60 membrane showed the lowest percentage of hemolysis (2.94%) but limited human albumin adsorption capacity. These results suggested that the blend PC/CM may be considered as a biomaterial for medical applications.

A new method for preparing the instant quinoa by piecewise gelatinization

In recent years, the market has great demand for the instant quinoa. However, the high content of protein and fat in quinoa grain inhibited the gelatinization and extension of starch molecules. The instant quinoa prepared by conventional gelatinization method has poor rehydration. In order to solve this problem, the sectioned heating method was used according to the properties of quinoa starch and protein. The purpose of the first heating stage was to gelatinize the starch with sufficient water, and the technological conditions were: the mass ratio of water to quinoa 4:1, the temperature of water bath 70 °C, the time of water bath 60 min. The purpose of the second heating stage was to denature the protein with less water, and the technological condition was that the quinoa was heated by atmospheric steam for 5 min. The instant quinoa prepared by above method had excellent rehydration. Compared to the raw quinoa, the content of protein, fat and reducing sugar in instant quinoa increased slightly, while the content of starch and polyphenols decreased slightly. The mass loss percentage of instant quinoa was 11.5% and the score of sensory evaluation for the sample prepared under the optimum conditions was 87.

Physical and culinary analysis of long gluten-free extruded pasta based on high protein quinoa flour

The consumption of foods with high protein content from pseudocereals is of great industrial interest. Pasta has a high gluten content; consequently, obtaining these gluten-free products is a technological challenge. The products obtained from quinoa show excellent results in protein and fiber with low glycemic index. This work focused on studying the effect of quinoa fat on the production of long pasta by extrusion in different mixtures of hyperprotein quinoa (HHP). It was observed that formulations with high percentages of starch showed a higher expansion rate, due to a higher fat content. Likewise, extruded pastes showed higher values of brightness than those containing lower percentages of starch and crude fat. The fracturability results were associated with the resistance of the paste to the pressure exerted for its deformation, which does not exceed 3.73 mm. The formulations with lower fat content presented high values in fracture stress due to the low diffusion of water and lipids. It was shown that fat has an indirect influence with a strong correlation with the expansion index and fracture stress and a moderate correlation (p > 0.05) with Young's modulus, indicating that increasing the added fat content increases the percentage of mass loss by baking. The melting and cohesiveness of all components improved during extrusion due to the pregelatinization of cassava starch, the addition of defatted HHP and the availability of quinoa starch granules.

Microstructural Characterization of Fibric Peat Stabilized with Portland Cement and Silica Fume.

Peat is a renowned problematic soil and needs stabilization to enhance its engineering properties. Silica fume (SF) and Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) were extensively adopted to increase the mechanical properties of peat; however, their microstructural analysis is lacking. Investigated herein is the microstructural evolution caused by the OPC and SF implementation in peat soil stabilization. Initially, the compositional analysis (elements and oxides) of peat and binders was carried out via energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Subsequently, the microstructural changes that occurred in the stabilized peat were examined through a series of microstructural analyses. The analysis includes scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) for morphological, mineralogical, functional group analysis, and bond thermal analysis, respectively. The SEM micrographs evidence the transformation of loosely packed with large micropores of untreated peat into a compact dense peat matrix. This transformation is due to the formation of newly developed minerals, i.e., calcium hydrates (CH), calcium silicate hydrates (C-S-H), calcium aluminate hydrate (CAH), ettringite (Aft) caused by the pozzolanic reaction of binders as recorded by the XRD. Similarly, different molecular functional groups were found in the FTIR analysis with the incorporation of SF and OPC. Finally, the percentage of mass loss was assessed through TGA analysis revealing the decomposition of stabilized in the second and third stages.

Finite element simulations of mechanical behaviour and degradation of iron lattices

Biodegradable metals such as iron have become appealing for usage in temporary bone implants. Although iron possesses excellent properties of biocompatibility, it shows a very slow degradation rate and presents a higher stiffness and strength when compared to human bone. Several strategies can be applied to decrease the strength of the iron, one of them being the use of porous/cellular structures. The present work aims to study the mechanical properties and the degradation behaviour of porous iron with cellular structures composed of lattice struts. Six lattice geometries, which were previously studied, and inspired by crystalline structures, were designed. The mechanical behaviour of the lattice arrangements was studied numerically using the finite element software NX Nastran. The corrosion module of the finite element software COMSOL was used to simulate the degradation behaviour of the cellular structure immersed in simulated body fluid. After the degradation process, the compressive properties of the porous cellular structures were also assessed. Under compression, the iron lattice structures showed an elastic limit stress close to the values determined for the trabecular bone yield stress. Geometries selected to simulate degradation have shown mass loss percentage and corrosion rates close to the degradation rate established for an ideal bone substitute. The present study confirms that the structural arrangement has a strong influence on the mechanical properties of iron cellular structures. The degradation behaviour of iron lattices also appears to be affected by the unit cell topology.

Experimental Investigation on Improving Lifetime of Peripheral Pump Impeller under Cavitation Using Different Techniques

The industry is becoming more interested in peripheral pumps because they are inexpensive, have low specific speeds, and are small. One of the more serious problems that may occur with any pump is cavitation. That has a significant impact on pump components, particularly the impeller. This work presents a detailed experimental study on prolonging impeller lifespan under cavitation conditions by studying the effect of impeller surface finishing and coatings on its lifetime. For this purpose, seven impellers, in addition to the original one of the peripheral pump, had prepared and treated. Three impellers with three different levels of arithmetic surface roughness (Ra) were produced using a low-cost and customizable hand grinding procedure. And four impellers have been coated thermally with four different erosion-resistant composite materials. All of the impellers were cavitated for 300 minutes at normal and one at high water temperatures. The result showed that the mass loss percentages with the smallest (Ra) of 0.35µm, and coated with yellow epoxy were 84.86% and 48.50% lower than the original impeller, respectively. Thus, improving the quality of impeller surface finishing, and thermal coatings are excellent method for increasing the impeller's cavitation erosion resistance and thereby extending its lifetime.

Modelling the Cyclic Response and Development of the Backbone Curve of Corroded RC Bridge Piers

Modelling the cyclic response for the evaluation of the seismic capacity of existing corroded RC bridges is important as it is well recognised in literature. Procedures exist in the literature for the inclusion of corrosion effects through variation in different parameters like cross-sectional area of reinforcement, stress–strain behaviour, yield strength, ultimate strength and elastic modulus. In the present study, change in the inelastic buckling behaviour of reinforcement and variation in the core concrete damage characteristic under different levels of corrosion are also modelled in detail with OpenSees computational software. Modelling procedures for pristine and corroded bridge piers are validated by comparison of the cyclic response results and backbone curves obtained from analytical modelling with the experimental results reported in the literature. In this paper, the procedure for the cyclic response evaluation of piers for different mass loss percentages for corrosion has been demonstrated. From cyclic response results, the backbone curves for corroded bridge pier specimens are developed for different mass loss percentages of corrosion. The modelling strategy proposed in this paper for the cyclic response evaluation of bridge piers can be adopted for quantifying the effect of corrosion on the cyclic response of similar important structures.

Microstructural and Thermo-Mechanical Characterization of Furfurylated Douglas Fir.

Fast-growing wood has become a major source of materials for the wood industry in recent years, but defects have limited its use. Therefore, modification is urgently needed for the more efficient application of wood products. In this study, a 30 to 50% solution of furfuryl alcohol (FA) was impregnated into Douglas fir sapwood. The microstructure and thermal properties of the specimens before and after furfurylation were evaluated by different techniques. The weight percentage gain (WPG) of modified wood increased up to 22.97%, with the polymerized FA distributed in cell lumens and cell walls, as well as chemically bound to wood components. The polyfurfuryl alcohol (PFA) was mainly located in the tracheids, ray parenchyma cells, and resin canals. In addition, the furfurylated cell walls were greatly thickened. Raman spectra showed that modified wood had significant background fluorescence that covered other peaks. Differential Scanning Calorimetry analysis revealed that the cross-linking reaction between FA and wood changed the shape of curves, with no endothermic or exothermic peaks within the programmed temperature. Moreover, Thermogravimetry and Dynamic Mechanical Analysis results both confirmed that the furfurylation increased the thermal stability of Douglas fir. The percentage of the final mass loss of untreated specimen was 80.11%, while the highest one of furfurylated specimen was 78.15%, and it gradually decreased with increasing FA concentration. The storage modulus (E') and loss modulus (E″) of the furfurylated wood were both lower, and the damping factor (tan δ) was higher than the untreated one. When the temperature reaches about 75 °C, the untreated specimen began to soften and deform. At 90 °C, it fractured completely while the furfurylatedone remained stable. This study demonstrated that furfurylation can improve wood properties and elongate its service life.

Impact of Biochar Addition in Microwave Torrefaction of Camelina Straw and Switchgrass for Biofuel Production

The possibility of applying biochar in mild torrefaction treatment to improve the thermochemical characteristics of ground biomass was the focus of the study. Camelina straw and switchgrass were torrefied in a reactor using microwave irradiation at torrefaction temperatures of 250 °C and 300 °C with residence times 10, 15 and 20 min, under nitrogen-activated inert conditions. Both biochar addition of more than 10% and residence time significantly affected the product yields, as MW torrefaction temperatures shifted from 250 °C to 300 °C. Overall, the results indicated a slight increase in ash content, mass loss percentage intensification, heating values, and fixed carbon, while moisture content and volatile matter decreased in camelina straw and switchgrass, with or without biochar. Biochar addition with a long residence time (20 min) at 250 °C reduced energy requirement during the microwave torrefaction process. The combustion index values showed that torrefied camelina straw or switchgrass with biochar addition suits co-combustion with coal in a coal-fired plant and is a potential biomaterial for biofuel pellets.

Hybrid composite board produced from wood and mineral stone wool fibers

Wood fiberboards are used extensively, mainly in the fields of furniture production, interior fittings, construction, etc. Mineral stone wool materials are used for heat and sound insulation in the construction industry. This study aimed to produce a new hybrid-based composite material by mixing fibers obtained from wood and mineral stone wool. For this purpose, hybrid fiberboards with 50, 40, 30, and 20% stone wool addition and a fiberboard group consisting of 100% pine and beech fibers (control sample) were produced in a hot press using thermoset-based urea formaldehyde and phenol formaldehyde resins. Statistical comparisons of the results were made for values of density, thickness swelling, and water absorption extents after 24 h immersion, bending strength and modulus of elasticity in bending, tensile strength perpendicular to the board surface (internal bond strength), and time to ignition (TTI) analysis. Additionally, percentage of mass loss (PML), average heat release rate (A-HRR), average effective heat of combustion (A-EHC), and mass loss rate (MLR) were studied. The results showed that as the stone wool content in the produced boards increased, the mechanical properties and thickness swelling decreased. The combustion results showed that the combustion resistance of the boards increased with increasing stone wool ratio.

Characteristics of the Greenland Ice Sheet Mass Variations Revealed by GRACE/GRACE Follow-On Gravimetry

As a major contributor to global mean sea-level rise, the Greenland ice sheet (GrIS) and the patterns of its mass change have attracted wide attention. Based on Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE)/GRACE Follow-On (GRACE-FO) gravimetry data, we computed monthly non-cumulative mass change time series of the GrIS, which agree with those from the mass budget method confirming the reliability of GRACE-FO-derived mass change. Over the GrIS, mass was mainly gained in winter, followed by spring. It primarily lost mass in summer, with the percentage of summer mass loss versus the corresponding annual mass loss ranging from 61% to 96%. We report that spring mass loss has become more frequent since 2015, and autumn mass gain occurred more frequently after 2014. By separating mass gain from mass loss at the annual timescale, we find that both the mass gain and mass loss showed a slightly increasing trend during 2003–2020, which might be a response to the ongoing Arctic warming. Summer mass variations highly correlated with the summer North Atlantic Oscillation index are dominated by temperature-associated precipitation and meltwater runoff. This study suggests that long-term observations would be necessary to better understand patterns of the GrIS mass variations in future.

A Preconditioning Paradox: Contrasting Effects of Initial Phyllosphere and Early Leaf Decomposer Microfungi on Subsequent Colonization by Leaf Decomposing Non-Unit-Restricted Basidiomycetes.

Fungal interactions during leaf decomposition can facilitate or inhibit other fungi. This experiment focused on whether preconditioning of leaf litter by microfungi that were confined to one leaf (Unit-Restricted) made leaf litter less likely to be colonized and decomposed by basidiomycetes that bind litter into mats (Non-Unit-Restricted) than non-preconditioned litter. Leaves of Manilkara bidentata in litterbags were preconditioned by incubating them for 0, 1, 2 or 3 months in flat litter/seed rain baskets 10 cm above the forest floor to avoid colonization by basidiomycete fungi. Preconditioned and non-preconditioned leaves were transferred to 5 replicate basidiomycete fungal mats of Gymnopus johnstonii for 6 weeks. Both attachment by basidiomycete fungi and percent mass loss after 6 weeks decreased significantly with increasing preconditioning time. In non-preconditioned leaves, gamma irradiation did not affect mass loss or percent white-rot despite having significantly increased numbers of basidiomycete fungal connections as compared to non-irradiated leaves. In non-preconditioned leaves, more basidiomycetes attachmented to non-irradiated than irradiated leaves suggest facilitation by phyllosphere microfungi. While basidiomycete colonization was initially facilitated by phyllosphere fungi, we inferred that degradation of resource quality led to fewer fungal attachments and less mass loss after 1–3 months of preconditioning by microfungi. The date suggest there is a 1-month time window for basidiomycete fungi to incorporate fallen leaves into their litter mats.

Comparative analysis of fetal pig decomposition processes in burials of variable depths and wrapping.

This research examined the effects that the variables of burial depth and presence of plastic wrapping had on the decomposition rate of fetal pig (Sus scrofa) remains in a New England environment. The decomposition of 56 fetal pigs was observed in four independent variable groups: 20 cm depth unwrapped, 20 cm wrapped, 60 cm unwrapped, and 60 cm wrapped, with exhumation at months 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 18. The authors hypothesized that the rate of decay would be slower for wrapped remains and/or for remains at a greater burial depth. Analysis of these remains consisted of preburial and postburial mass, adipocere coverage, skeletal exposure, and decomposition quantified as Total Body Score (TBS). The difference between preburial and postburial mass was reported as a loss percentage to account for varying preburial masses. Wrapping was a significant influencer of mass loss percentage, with p=0.0298 but not for the TBS, with p=0.17565. Burial depth did not have a significant effect on either mass loss percentage or TBS, with p=0.1956 and 0.08969, respectively. This study suggests that wrapping has a greater influence on decomposition patterns than burial depth in this environment, particularly the mass loss percentage. It is suggested that there are limitations with the use of TBS in Postmortem Interval (PMI) estimation, such as variable burial conditions and body characteristics.

Hyperspectral imaging as a tool for profiling basidiomycete decay of Pinus sylvestris L.

Given the right climatic and environmental conditions, a range of microorganisms can deteriorate wood. Decay by basidiomycete fungi accounts for significant volumes of wood in service that need to be replaced. In this study, a short-wave infrared hyperspectral camera was used to explore the possibilities of using spectral imaging technology for the fast and non-destructive detection of fungal decay. The study encompassed different degradation stages of Scots pine sapwood (Pinus sylvestris L.) specimens inoculated with monocultures of either a brown rot fungus (Rhodonia placenta Fr.) or a white rot fungus (Trametes versicolor L.). The research questions were if the hyperspectral camera can profile fungal wood decay and whether it also can differentiate between decay mechanisms of brown rot and white rot decay. The data analysis employed Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression with the mass loss percentage as the response variable. For all models, the mass loss could be predicted from the wavelength range 1460–1600 nm, confirming the reduction in cellulose. A single PLS component could describe the mass loss to a high degree (90%). The distinction between decay by brown or white rot fungi was made based on spectral peaks around 1680 and 2240 nm, related to lignin.

Effect of Thrombin and Incubation Time on Porcine Whole Blood Clot Elasticity and Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator Susceptibility.

Deep vein thrombosis is a major source of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Catheter-directed thrombolytics are the frontline approach for vessel recanalization, though fibrinolytic efficacy is limited for stiff, chronic thrombi. Although thrombin has been used in preclinical models to induce thrombosis, the effect on lytic susceptibility and clot stiffness is unknown. The goal of this study was to explore the effect of bovine thrombin concentration and incubation time on lytic susceptibility and stiffness of porcine whole blood clots in vitro. Porcine whole blood was allowed to coagulate at 37°C in glass pipets primed with 2.5 or 15 U/mL thrombin for 15 to 120 min. Lytic susceptibility to recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA, alteplase) over a range of concentrations (3.15-107.00 µg/mL) was evaluated using percentage clot mass loss. The Young's moduli and degrees of retraction of the clots were estimated using ultrasound-based single-track-location shear wave elasticity and B-mode imaging, respectively. Percentage mass loss decreased and clot stiffness increased with the incubation period. Clots formed with 15 U/mL and incubated for 2 h exhibited properties similar to those of highly retracted clots: Young's modulus of 2.39 ± 0.36 kPa and percentage mass loss of 8.69 ± 2.72% when exposed to 3.15 µg/mL rt-PA. The histological differences between thrombin-induced porcine whole blood clots in vitro and thrombi in vivo are described.

Aqueous Adsorptive Removal of Bisphenol A Using Tripartite Magnetic Montmorillonite Composites

The adsorption of bisphenol A into untreated montmorillonite clay, doped titanium composite and cationic polymer modified tripartite magnetic montmorillonite composite was investigated under different conditions. The magnetic property of the modified adsorbent was ascertained by action of external magnetic field on the materials when dispersed in aqueous media. The XRD results for the unmodified and modified adsorbents showed that interlayer spacing of the clay material increases due to intercalation of the precursor molecules. The textural properties of the adsorbents from BET analysis showed that pore size and specific surface area of the tripartite magnetic composite was calculated to be 288.08 m2/g while that of the unmodified clay was 90.39 m2/g. The TGA results showed the tripartite magnetic composite was more stable with the lowest percentage mass loss compared to the unmodified montmorillonite. The tripartite magnetic composite showed higher adsorption capacity. Adsorption was best described by the Freundlich isotherm model, which confirmed that the adsorption process was multilayer coverage unto the uneven surface of the adsorbents. Kinetic treatment of the adsorption data confirmed the the process followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model and predominantly chemisorption process. The standard Gibb’s free energy computed for the adsorbents showed that the adsorption processes were favourably spontaneous with highly negative energy values of −336.70, −533.76 and −1438.38 KJ/mol, respectively, for the unmodified montmorillonite, doped titanium composite and the tripartite magnetic composite. It was observed that the addition of cationic aromatic moiety to the clay material increased pollutant-adsorbent interactions and improved adsorption capacity for micro-pollutants in a simulated industrial effluent.

An Environmentally Friendly Solution for Waste Facial Masks Recycled in Construction Materials

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, single-use disposable masks saw a dramatic rise in production. Facial masks that are not properly disposed of will expose the environment to a form of non-biodegradable plastic waste that will take hundreds of years to degrade. Therefore, recycling such waste in an eco-friendly manner is imperative. Fibered or shredded waste masks can be used to make green concrete that is an environmentally friendly solution to dispose the facial masks. This study prepared six classes of concrete samples, three of which contained fibers from masks and three of which contained shredded masks at the ages of seven days and 28 days. The results show that in the seven-day and 28-day samples, mask fiber added to the mixes resulted in increased compressive strength. For seven-day and 28-day samples, the compressive strength increased by 7.2% and 10%, respectively. Despite that, the results of the shredded mask addition to concrete indicate that the increase in shredded mask volume has a minor impact on the compressive strength of the seven-day samples. An increase in shredded mask from 0.75 to 1% increased 28-day compressive strength by 14%. However, the compressive strength of the mask fiber decreased by 8 after 1% volume. According to a thermal analysis of 28-day concrete samples, as the fiber percentage increases, the mass loss percentage increases. The mass loss rate for samples containing fibers is higher than that for samples containing shredded mask pieces. In general, based on the results mentioned above, the use of fiber in concrete in its fiber state enhances its strength properties. As a result, using shredded mask pieces in concrete leads to better curing due to the reduction of residual capillary pore water loss in construction materials.

Analysis of Biodegradation Characteristics Based on Visual Observation and Mass Loss Percentage in Soil Burial Test of Sustainable Geo-bag Materials as Temporary Structures in Natural Coastal Protection System

Coastal erosion is a significant hazard that causes heavy loss of land and damage to structures in coastal areas globally. To mitigate this problem, coastal engineers worldwide are focusing on sustainable coastal development practices. To this end, many countries are using natural protective methods, including vegetation such as mangroves. However, this practice is not without challenges; to ensure that mangroves could grow strongly required at least two years. A natural coastal protection system is the proposed solution, which combines mangrove vegetation as the main structure and geo-bag-dykes as temporary structures to solve this problem. The role of geo-bag-dykes is needed until mangrove plants mature. So, the length of time for geo-bags to degrade naturally is vital to get considered because otherwise, it will become hazardous coastal debris. Today, commonly used geo-bags are made from synthetic fibers that take a long time to degrade. Thus, this study tested alternative materials made from natural fibers, such as lyocell, kenaf, cotton, and rayon. The objective is to determine whether these alternative materials can be used as sustainable geo-bag materials or not in terms of biodegradation. Based on the soil burial test results contained in ISO 11721-1, these alternative materials degrade much faster when compared to commonly used geo-bag materials.

The Effect of the Shot Blasting Process on the Dynamic Response of Steel Reinforcement

As it is widely known, corrosion poses a real threat for reinforced concrete structures, especially when they are located in coastal areas. This phenomenon, in conjunction with repeated loads, such as intense seismic events, adversely affect their useful service life. Several experimental studies have presented the magnitude of degradation of steel reinforcement due to corrosion in the presence of fatigue, which affects either the serviceability or durability of steel reinforcement. As a result, the current experimental study presents the results of the shot blasting process of steel reinforcement at various times of exposure to a corrosive environment and the influence on their dynamic response after the execution of low cycle fatigue tests at different constant strain amplitudes. The findings show the beneficial effect of the shot blasting process in terms of percentage mass loss and the improvement of mechanical performance of steel bars in terms of service life and energy dissipation capacity. Moreover, the assessment performed with a quality material index demonstrates the improved mechanical performance of shot blasted specimens vs. bare specimens, in the long term for medium range-imposed deformation.

Canopy opening increases leaf‐shredding arthropods and nutrient mineralization but not mass loss in wet tropical forest

AbstractHurricanes alter forest habitat by opening the canopy and depositing fresh wood and leaves. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of hurricane and drought‐driven changes to forests on green litter decomposition, invertebrate communities, and nutrient mineralization over a short period (6 months) after disturbance. We used three complete replicated blocks with two canopy treatments: control and trim + detritus. Green leaves were enclosed in litterbags of three different mesh sizes to determine the effect of soil fauna of varying body sizes. Litterbags were retrieved from the field after 21, 35, 84, and 168 days and transported to the laboratory in individually sealed plastic bags. We extracted and identified invertebrates, measured leached and mineralized litter nutrients using ion resin membranes placed for 1 week under the leaves inside the litterbags, and determined litter mass loss. Additional resin membranes were placed in the lowest litter layer above the mineral soil. The number of arthropod taxonomic groups and nutrient mineralization differed significantly between control and trim + detritus. Regardless of mesh size, bags in control plots had consistently higher invertebrate richness than in trim + detritus plots. Nitrogen mineralization and phosphorous mineralization were significantly higher in trim + detritus in large mesh size, and decomposer arthropod abundance was highest in large‐sized mesh bags. These data suggest that within functional categories, variations in feeding behavior among arthropod orders may affect the release of nutrients from organic matter. Percent mass loss did not differ between canopy treatments or litterbag mesh sizes, but instead decreased during drought. Invertebrate composition, but not abundance, differed significantly between canopy treatments with greater dominance by shredders (Lepidoptera and Diptera larvae) in trim + detritus, which corresponded to higher rates of nutrient mineralization from green leaves. These results suggest that regional drought dominated the mesoclimate surpassing any microclimate variation in response to canopy treatments. Since mass loss did not differ between canopy treatments or litterbag mesh sizes, our results suggest that differences in short‐term nutrient fluxes from green litter are mostly related to changes in the litter invertebrate food web rather than rates of decomposition.