The phrase "acted as substitute" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing someone or something that takes the place of another in a specific role or function.
Example: "During the meeting, Jane acted as substitute for the absent manager, ensuring that all agenda items were addressed."
Alternatives: "served as a replacement" or "functioned as an alternative".
The Corps of Cadets and similar public and private institutions also acted as substitutes for local and family bonds; these schools were also the seedbeds for an active intellectual life, and their students played a leading role in spreading the literature and ideas of western Europe in court circles and in the high society of the capitals.
Acidic macroporous resins acted as substitutes for both heterogeneous acids and supports of Pd-TPPTS complexes afforded many advantages, such as easy separation from organic products and good reusability.
If, like us, the crowds put you off going to the Tower to see the poppies, then perhaps The Passing Bells (BBC1) can act as substitute.
According to Ulrich Mellinghof, head of safety development at the brand, the tunnels are not intended to act as substitute environments for road testing, but should allow the automaker to test certain features in prototype and then select the top-performing equipment for subsequent road tests.
Moreover, aptamers that are specific antagonists of protein function can act as substitute interaction partners in HTS assays to facilitate the identification of small-molecule lead compounds.
The possible gridlock caused by its lack of an absolute majority in the Senate could be the catalyst for discussing the possibility of a non-partisan political figure to act as substitute president for the next four years.
Family members are often required to act as substitute decision-makers when health care or research participation decisions must be made for an incapacitated relative.
On the other hand, these products may act as substitutes for long-acting insulin analogues and thus reduce the daily dose of DET and GLAR.
In the absence of reputation, the government and regulators act as substitutes to ensure appropriate conduct.
