The rate of ion transfer across the supported liquid membrane (SLM) is studied in the rotating diffusion cell (RDC), varying the chemical composition of the SLM from net-cloth supported gel membranes to radiation-grafted polymer membranes. Steady-state current-voltage curves are measured as a function of the rotation rate, and values for the standard rate constant, k(0), are determined for a series of tetraalkylammonium cations from the analysis of the initial slopes and the diffusion limiting currents. The analysis gives values for k(0) of the order of 10(-2)-10(-4) cm s(-1), which is in rather good agreement with the values found in the literature for this type of the system. As controlled delivery of ionic drugs can be achieved by control of the electric current, whereby the SLM acts as a drug reservoir, the study is extended to the release of the anti-Alzheimer drug Tacrine, where ion-exchange fibers are embedded in the membrane as the drug carrier. Our previous transient experiments are also discussed, and it is suggested that their interpretation is seriously hampered by the non-uniform potential distribution, which brings about high capacitive currents. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.