Minimum entropy production in photosynthesis.
In this paper a flux-coupling model of photosynthesis is presented. By requiring minimum entropy production, it is found that the photosynthetic efficiency is essentially given by the square root of D/lambda. D and lambda are the diffusion coefficient and thermal conductivity of the rate-limiting processes in the chloroplast, respectively. For experimental values of D and lambda, the efficiency is found to be 2.4-7.5%, with a likely value of 6.1%, whereas C4-plants are known to have an efficiency of 6.2%. We conclude that the process of photosynthesis is in quantitative agreement with the principle of minimum entropy production.
Andriesse
C D
CD
Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, Utrecht University, The Netherlands. C.D.Andriesse@phys.uu.nl
Hollestelle
M J
MJ
D004058:Diffusion; D019277:Entropy; D007700:Kinetics; D008956:Models, Chemical; D010788:Photosynthesis