A cost-effective, easy method for enhancing the CO2 permeance and CO2/N2 selectivity of mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) was fabricated using commercially available MgCO3 crystals. The MgCO3 crystals were homogenously dispersed in polymer matrices via mechanical stirring to prepare MMMs. In particular, an amphiphilic comb polymer (CP) consisting of poly(ethylene glycol) behenyl ether methacrylate (PEGBEM) and poly(oxyethylene methacrylate) (POEM) was shown to be ideal matrix because of the interactions between its carbonyl oxygen atoms and MgCO3. Through SEM, HR-TEM, WAXS, DSC, FT-IR, N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm measurements and Raman spectroscopies, the MgCO3 and CP/MgCO3 hybrids were characterized. The CP/MgCO3 MMM with 45 wt% MgCO3 exhibited the highest CO2/N2 selectivity of 93.8 and CO2 permeance of 30.9 GPU.

• 박철훈(연세대학교 공과대학 화공생명공학과, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University) | Cheol Hun Park
• 박병주(연세대학교 공과대학 화공생명공학과, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University) | Byung Joo Park
• 김종학(연세대학교 공과대학 화공생명공학과, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University) | Jong Hak Kim