Mixed-mode oscillations and chaos in a complex chemical reaction network involving heterogeneous catalysis

The nonlinear dynamical behavior in a complex isothermal reaction network involving heterogeneous catalysis is studied. The method first determines the multiple steady states in the reaction network. This is followed by an analysis of bifurcation continuations to identify several kinds of bifurcations, including limit point, Bogdanov-Takens, generalized Hopf, period doubling, and generalized period doubling. Numerical simulations are performed around the period doubling and generalized period doubling bifurcations. Rich nonlinear behaviors are observed, including simple sustained oscillations, mixed-mode oscillations, non-mixed-mode chaotic oscillations, and mixed-mode chaotic oscillations. Concentration-time plots, 2D phase portraits, Poincaré maps, maximum Lyapunov exponents, frequency spectra, and cascade of bifurcations are reported. Period-doubling and period-adding routes leading to chaos are observed. Maximum Lyapunov exponents are positive for all the chaotic cases, but they are also positive for some non-chaotic orbits. This result diminishes the reliability of using maximum Lyapunov exponents as a tool for determining chaos in the network under study.