Thermodynamic Analysis of the Landolt-Type Autocatalytic System

Abstract

A recent work demonstrated on the example of the Landolt-type reaction system how the simplest autocatalytic loop is described by the kinetic mass action law and proper parametrization of direct and autocatalytic pathways. Using a methodology of non-equilibrium thermodynamics the thermodynamic consistency of that kinetic model is analyzed and the mass action description generalized including an alternative description by the empirical rate equation. Relationships between independent and dependent reactions and their rates are given. The mathematical modeling shows that following the time evolution of reaction rates provides additional insight into autocatalytic behavior. A brief note on thermodynamic driving forces and coupling with diffusion is added. In summary, this work extends and generalizes the kinetic description of the Landolt-type system placing it within the framework of non-equilibrium thermodynamics and demonstrating its thermodynamic consistency.