Bifurcation and chaos for a mutating autocatalator in a CSTR

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, !, and mutation efficiency, #, 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.