Calorimetry studies of a chemical oscillatory system

The effect of putrescine (PUT) on KSCN-H2O2-CuSO4-NaOH oscillating system was investigated by calorimetric method. The oscillating reaction was monitored in a closed reactor with stirring, and the result showed that the oscillating period was linearly related with putrescine concentration and the numbers of oscillation decreased with increase in putrescine concentration. When [PUT]=2.83·10−4 M, no oscillation was observed. A possible mechanism is proposed that putrescine is a scavenger of the active-oxygen species. The result of numerical simulation by a simplified mechanism consisting of 18 kinetic steps and 16 variables is consistent with the experimental findings.