NONEQUILIBRIUM THERMODYNAMICS AS APPLIED TO MEMBRANE-TRANSPORT

The framework of linear non-equilibrium thermodynamics (LNET) has been briefly characterized, tracing the way of derivation of the phenomenological equations. Applications to membrane transport phenomena have been presented in two-, three- and four-flow approaches. The treatment of active transport in terms of LNET is given. The reduction to Nernst-Einstein equations is briefly outlined, and the experimental verification of Onsager reciprocal relations as well as more general applications to experimental results are reviewed. Furthermore, the importance of individual balance equations for the coupling of diffusion and viscous phenomena is presented. The importance of this approach is also illustrated for the generalization of Prigogine's theorem for invariance of the diffusional entropy production. Possible non-local phenomena due to stress fields are indicated and generalized advantages and disadvantages of the thermodynamic treatment are summarized. As an example of a more general approach to membrane transport, extended non-equilibrium thermodynamics, ENET, is briefly presented.