Rov qab osmosis yog cov txheej txheem sib cais membrane tsim nyob rau xyoo 1980s, uas feem ntau yog siv cov txheej txheem semipermeable membrane, siv lub siab rau cov tshuaj concentrated hauv cov txheej txheem osmosis, yog li cuam tshuam lub ntuj osmotic ntws. Yog li ntawd, cov dej pib ntws los ntawm cov concentrated ntau mus rau cov tshuaj uas tsis muaj concentrated. RO yog qhov tsim nyog rau thaj chaw siab salinity ntawm cov dej nyoos thiab tshem tawm txhua yam ntsev thiab impurities hauv dej.