Abstract
The electrochemical studies on the ion transport from one aqueous (W1) to another (W2) across a bilayer lipid membrane (BLM) are reviewed. The membrane transport includes ion transfers at W1/BLM and BLM/W2 interfaces and diffusion of ions within the BLM. The membrane potential, hitherto, has been treated as the resultant of the interfacial potentials represented by Donnan potential and the diffusion potential expressed by Henderson or Goldman equations. In case of evaluation of the characteristics of ion permeation, diffusion process has been regarded as significant. The authors found based on the voltammogram for ion transport through a membrane, however, that various phenomena observed with the ion transport were elucidated by taking into account the conjugated ion transfers at W1/BLM and BLM/W2 interfaces. The relation between the shapes of voltammograms and properties of added ions, coexisting ions and lipids composing BLMs was also clarified.
