Bifurcation and chaos for a mutating autocatalator in a CSTR

Abstract

In this paper, we develop a conceptual model for autocatalytic reactions in which the autocatalyst undergoes a mutation process in a completely stirred tank reactor. Three cases with different mutation coefficient, α, and mutation efficiency, β, have been considered. The analysis of these cases shows the importance of the two parameters and the complexity of the resulting bifurcation diagrams. Co-existence of a mushroom and an isola have been determined for the first case. The isola portion is a low main product yield solution and is to be avoided. A sub-region of 7 co-existing steady states, with three stable static branches, has been determined for the second case. Chaos developing through period doubling and type 1 intermittency has been shown to occur for a fourth case.