USING THE POWER-LAW RATE EXPRESSION FOR ASSESSMENT OF RATE DATA AND DETECTION OF INFEASIBLE MECHANISMS FOR REVERSIBLE-REACTIONS

A procedure for analysis of experimental data and model discrimination in regression of rate data of reversible, heterogeneous reactions whi ch uses the power-law rate expression is described. The numerical valu es of the power-law parameters are calculated first by regression of t he experimental data. These parameters are used to assess whether the quality of the experimental data is sufficient to render the following mechanistic model discrimination process conclusive. The parameter va lues of the power-law rate expression are also used for initial screen ing of the mechanism-based rate expressions, to discard infeasible mod els. The use of the proposed procedure is demonstrated using two examp les from the literature.