Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics of Electrokinetic Effects of Electrolytic Solutions Permeating Across a Lipid Membrane

Abstract

The artificial membrane, having lecithin (Phosphatidyl choline) in its matrix and being supported by a pyrex sintered <7 4 disc, has been utilised to study the hydraulic permeability, electroosmosis and the streaming potential of 10 ~5 and 10 ~ 6 molar KC1 and Nad solutions. The data obtained have been analysed with the help of Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics. The phenomenological coefficients of the membrane solution system have been calculated and the near equality of the cross coefficients proves the validity of Onsager's reciprocal relation. The electrokinetic effects of the KC1 solution are more accentuated than those of the NaCl solution at the same concentration. The maximum electrokinetic energy conversion for Lecithin/KCl and Lecithin/NaCl systems has also been calculated.