Formalization of common power and efficiency definitions for energy-converting intracellular biochemical processes

The definitions of power and efficiency for energy-converting intracellular biochemical processes, introduced by Caplan and Essig are studied. These d efinitions are recovered in the present work with the formalism of De Groot and Mazur for First-Order Irreversible Thermodynamics, rather than the for malism of Prigogine, as done by Caplan and Essig. The approach here employe d permits to keep track of all the assumptions in a more clear manner, and to get rid of a very strong restriction in the approach of Caplan and Essig which assumes that the chemical potentials are homogeneous inside the cell .