The effect of reversible binding of the autocatalyst on the lateral instability of reaction fronts

Numerical studies of lateral instability have been carried out on reaction fronts arising in a cubic autocatalytic system with a reversible removal of the autocatalyst introduced as a fast equilibrium producing an immobile co mplex. We have shown that even a small amount of complexing agent substanti ally decreases the critical ratio of diffusion coefficients; and since no a brupt extinction of front property exists, lateral instability may even occ ur in systems where the autocatalyst diffuses faster than the reactant. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.