Frequency Control of an Oscillatory Reaction by Reversible Binding of an Autocatalyst

Milos Dolnik; Timothy S. Gardner; Irving R. Epstein; James J. Collins

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.82.1582

Frequency Control of an Oscillatory Reaction by Reversible Binding of an Autocatalyst

Milos Dolnik, Timothy S. Gardner, Irving R. Epstein, and James J. Collins

Phys. Rev. Lett. 82, 1582 – Published 15 February 1999

Abstract

We demonstrate a novel mechanism for controlling the frequency, amplitude, and existence of chemical oscillations. Using a ferrocyanide-iodate-sulfite reaction, we show that a chemical buffer can increase or decrease the frequency of oscillations. Furthermore, the same buffer can completely suppress or, conversely, induce oscillations when added to the appropriate composition. This simple buffering scheme can provide a practical method for controlling the oscillations of a variety of chemical and biological systems.

Received 21 October 1998

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.82.1582

Authors & Affiliations

Milos Dolnik^1,2, Timothy S. Gardner¹, Irving R. Epstein², and James J. Collins¹

¹Department of Biomedical Engineering and Center for BioDynamics, Boston University, 44 Cummington Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02215
²Department of Chemistry and Center for Complex Systems, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts 02454