On Washout in Nonlinear Compartmental Systems
Abstract
**Please note that the full text is embargoed** ABSTRACT: Let x(t) be a solution of a compartmental system. If, for some compartment j, x (t) -> 0 as t -> °°, then we say that compartment
j washes out. We show that a compartment washes out if it always reaches (along a fixed path) either the environment or another compartment for
which there is no return path. Additional criteria, particularly regarding exponential convergence, are also presented. Examples are drawn from tracer kinetics, enzyme reactions, and epidemic models.