Sequential statistical design strategy in a kinetic study of propylene oxidation

Abstract
A sequential design strategy was used to direct an experimental kinetic study of propylene oxidation over bismuth molybdate. Two statistical criteria were used to design experiments. The first is a joint criterion for the dual problem of model discrimination and parameter estimation which was proposed by Hill et al. (1968), but which to the best of our knowledge has not been tested in an experimental program. Using this joint criterion design, it was demonstrated that both the objectives of model discrimination and precise parameter estimation were effectively accomplished. After model discrimination had been achieved, a design strategy for further improvement in parameter precision was found, as expected, to be effective for that purpose.