Analysis and

An 80-reaction, 26-species mechanistic model of the oscillatory Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction recently introduced by Gybgyi, Turhnyi and Field (GTF model) is analyzed in this work. Major reaction interactions within the large mechanism are revealed, and by reaction rate sensitivity analysis redundant species and reactions are identified. Removal of these results in a 42-reaction, 22-species mechanism that quantitatively agrees with the original model in three test simulations. This mechanism was further simplified to 3-variable (HBr02, B r, Ce(1V)) skeleton models that are oscillatory under the conditions where the transient oscillations appear in the batch simulations. Two such models are put forward that oscillate without any change in the original parameter values. These skeleton models are contrasted with the Oregonator model and proved to be better description of the experimental system. It is of particular interest that these simple models do not contain any adjustable parameters. The 42-reaction mechanism is suggested as a starting point for further modeling studies with the BZ reaction. This model still contains both negative feedbacks suggested for this system, the bromide-control and the organic radical control. In the skeletons only the inhibition by bromide ions is necessary for the oscillations to occur. The simplification process reveals that the radical transfer process between malonyl radical and bromomalonic acid is of great importance in this mechanism. Recent experimental study by FCIrsterling and Stuk finds this reaction to be unimportant in the BZ chemistry. We propose the addition of the hydrolysi