Lastly, because the equilibrium reactions are key to both the CO2 and CO3 2-regeneration, the ratio of the local forward and backward rates of each reaction (1)-( ), representing the deviation of these reactions from equilibrium, were plotted throughout the modeled domain for both the 1 M KHCO3 and simulated seawater cases (Figures ). Interestingly, owing to their fast kinetics, reactions (1), (3), and (5) reach equilibrium throughout the entire domain, except for within the CL. However, reactions ( ) and ( ) significantly deviate from equilibrium within the catholyte where CO2 regeneration occurs. Indeed, they favor their reverse direction, demonstating that the water dissociation H + flux drives these reactions out of equilibrium towards regenerating CO2. This analysis demonstrates the importance of the BPM pH swing in driving buffer reactions within the ion-conducting polymer domains.