On the asymptotic limit of the effectiveness of reaction-diffusion equations in periodically structured media

This paper addresses an investigation of the asymptotic behaviour as epsilon -> 0 of the solution to the boundary value problem associated with the p-Laplace operator in an epsilon-periodically structured domain with a nonlinear Robin-type condition specified on the boundary of the periodic subdomains. This kind of domains include the so called perforated media as well as the case of isolated particles distributed in a periodic way. This second case arises quite often in Chemical Engineering. Here we consider a non-critical size of the particles. The objective of this paper is twofold. First we study the homogenization of solutions in the case of a continuous nonlinear reaction term on the boundary of the periodic structure. Then, we move to studying the homogenization of the effectiveness factor of the reactor, which is of relevance in Chemical Engineering. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.