Graph Theoretical Analysis on the Kinetic Rate Equations of Linear Chain and Cyclic Reaction Networks

Abstract

Graph theoretical solutions for kinetic rate equations of some reaction networks involving linear chains and cycles have been derived; condensation polymerization and long chain of radioactive decay come under the purview of the former whereas the interconversion of the species in cycles under the later. The reactions for the linear chains considered here proceed monotonically to the steady states with time whereas the cycle with all irreversible steps has been found to have either periodic or monotonic time evaluation of concentrations depending on the values of rate constants of the involved paths. In case of a cyclic reaction having all reversible paths, the condition for the microscopic reversibility has been derived on the basis of the assumption that the decay constants obtained for this case are all real.