A NETWORK THERMODYNAMIC METHOD FOR NUMERICAL-SOLUTION OF THE NERNST-PLANCK AND POISSON EQUATION SYSTEM WITH APPLICATION TO IONIC TRANSPORT THROUGH MEMBRANES

Simple techniques of network thermodynamics are used to obtain the numerical solution of the Nernst-Planck and Poisson equation system. A network model for a particular physical situation, namely ionic transport through a thin membrane with simultaneous diffusion, convection and electric current, is proposed. Concentration and electric field profiles across the membrane, as well as diffusion potential, have been simulated using the electric circuit simulation program, SPICE. The method is quite general and extremely efficient, permitting treatments of multi-ion systems whatever the boundary and experimental conditions may be. © 1990 Springer-Verlag.