This Special Issue of Mathematical and Computer Modelling of Dynamical Systems is entirely devoted to mathematical modelling and control of chemical and bio-chemical processes.
Initial versions of the papers were presented at an invited session at the 4th MATHMOD International Symposium on Mathematical Modelling (Vienna, 5 – 7 February 2003). On the basis of the review results, the session organizers (Philippe Bogaerts, ULB, Belgium and Jan Van Impe, KULeuven, Belgium) invited the session contributors to extend and update their papers for publication in the MCMDS journal.
Many of the session contributors accepted our invitation. The result is what we believe to be a nice cross-section of current trends in modelling, optimization and control of (bio-)chemical processes. As for modelling, both macroscopic and microscopic models are presented. Also, advanced techniques for model identification and approximation/complexity reduction are discussed. Distributed parameter models for large scale systems are evaluated under steady state and transient conditions. At the level of model based optimization (with multiple objectives), the performance of several solution strategies is critically assessed. Finally, in the context of process control, the existence of multiple steady state profiles in interconnected biological systems has a serious impact on stabilization of such processes.
On behalf of the editors of this issue, I would like to express my gratitude to Professors I. Troch and F. Breitenecker, the enthusiastic organizers of the tri-annual MATHMOD conferences in Vienna. That the conference is in good shape is clearly reflected by the steadily increasing number of both participants and topics.
Many thanks as well to all authors who have contributed to this Special Issue. Last but not least, Philippe Bogaerts and I are very grateful to our colleague Ilse Smets (KULeuven, Belgium) for her efforts in processing and compiling the individual contributions. We hope you enjoy it!
Jan Van Impe
Special Issue Editors
Jan Van Impe, KULeuven (Belgium)
Ilse Smets, KULeuven (Belgium)
Philippe Bogaerts, ULB (Belgium)