Kinetics (Reaction kinetics)
Kinetics
Japanese: 速度論（反応速度論）
The study of reaction rates and factors affecting them. The theoretical foundation for understanding and predicting fermentation speed.
Kinetics studies how fast chemical reactions proceed and what factors affect their speed. Temperature, concentration, and the presence of catalysts (enzymes) all influence reaction rates.
In fermentation, enzyme reaction kinetics (the Michaelis-Menten equation) are particularly important. This equation describing the relationship between substrate concentration and reaction rate characterizes enzymes with two parameters: Km and Vmax.
'How much faster will aging proceed if temperature rises 5°C?' 'How will microbial growth rate change if salt is reduced?'—kinetics provides quantitative answers. With the power to translate empirical rules into equations, kinetics is the foundation for making brewing a 'reproducible science.' Where fermentation meets science, new discoveries await.