Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics of Non-Ideal Chemical Reaction Networks

Abstract: All current formulations of nonequilibrium thermodynamics of open chemical reaction networks rely on the assumption of non-interacting species. We develop a general theory which accounts for interactions between chemical species within a mean-field approach using activity coefficients. Thermodynamic consistency requires that rate equations do not obey to standard mass-action kinetics, but account for the interactions with concentration dependent kinetic constants. Many features of the ideal formulations are recovered. Crucially, the thermodynamic potential and the forces driving non-ideal chemical systems out of equilibrium are identified. Our theory is general and holds for any mean-field expression of the interactions leading to lower bounded free energies.