Ionic Transport Processes

Modelling of heterogeneous processes, such as electrochemical reactions, extraction, or ion-exchange, usually requires solving the transport problem associated to the process. Since the processes at the phase boundary are described by scalar quantities and transport quantities are vectors or tensors, coupling them can take place only via conservation of mass, charge, or momentum. In this book, the transport of ionic species is addressed in a versatile manner, emphasizing the mutual coupling of fluxes in particular. Treatment is based on the formalism of irreversible thermodynamics, i.e. on linear (ionic) phenomenological equations, from which the most frequently used Nernst-Planck equation is derived. Limitations and assumptions made are thoroughly discussed. The Nernst-Planck equation is applied to selected problems at the electrodes and in membranes. Mathematical derivations are presented in detail so that the reader can learn the methodology of solving transport problems. Each chapter contains a large number of exercises, some of them more demanding than others. The main topic covered by this book, ionic transport, is of technological importance in relation to the current interest in membrane technology, for instance for developments in fuel cells. The complexity of these problems requires a fundamental approach and understanding of the basic processes taking place. [...] The book is of very high quality and the inclusion of problem sets is a definite plus. David Schiffrin, University of Liverpool The book fills a very definite and well sensed gap in the existing literature, and it has all potential qualification to become a standard study and teaching tool and source of reference for the researchers in the classical electrochemistry and membranology as well as in the rapidly developing neighbour areas of bio- and nano-technology and microfluidics. It should also be of interest to biophysicists with interests in electro- and neurophysiology. Isaak Rubinstein, Ben Gurion University, Israel1. Thermodynamics of irreversible processes ; 2. Transport equations ; 3. Transport at electrodes ; 4. Transport in membranes ; 5. Transport through liquid membranes