The development of the chemistries for thermal desalination goes back to the 1970s where Ciba -Geigy (a Swiss company) developed key PMA chemistries. These chemistries enabled Middle Eastern countries to desalinate sea water using their excess of oil-based energy in thermal desalination units. Without the newly developed PMA chemistries, these multi-stage flash distillation units would foul up with inorganic salts and would need to be shut down within days. This is still the case today, with the prime source of water in this region being seawater.

Chemixia has a long-standing relationship with the key players in the development and evolution of this chemistry.