Pure Lithium's Brine to Battery Technology Wins 2025 Green Chemistry Award

Pure Lithium, founded by CEO Emilie Bodoin in 2020, has been recognized with the 2025 Green Chemistry Challenge Award in the Chemical and Process Design for Circularity category for its groundbreaking Brine to Battery technology. This achievement follows Bodoin's recent recognition as Trailblazing Woman of the Year by Fastmarkets in June, adding to a growing list of industry accolades that includes a Reuters Global Energy Transition award and a Fastmarkets Voltas award for R&D Achievement.

The company's patented technology represents a significant advancement in energy storage, developing a completely new battery based on lithium metal and vanadium that surpasses the globally popular lithium-ion battery in both cost and performance metrics. Within just six years of operation, Pure Lithium has built an intellectual property portfolio exceeding 120 patents and patent applications, with Bodoin personally holding six patents related to the battery technology and materials.

What sets Pure Lithium's approach apart is its ambitious goal to completely replace the world's most widely used energy storage technology while eliminating dependence on global supply chains for battery materials. The Brine to Battery technology dramatically reduces carbon emissions caused by thousands of miles of shipping traditionally required for battery component transportation. This innovation addresses critical challenges in the energy storage sector, including safety concerns with existing technologies and the environmental impact of extensive supply chains.

Bodoin's background combines scientific expertise with financial acumen, having worked as Principal Investigator on lithium metal production projects at Argonne National Laboratory and held finance roles in New York before founding Pure Lithium. Her experience at the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority as an Entrepreneur in Residence allowed her to connect with leading scientists and witness the development of transformative technologies firsthand.

The company's progress from initial research to the cusp of commercial production demonstrates the practical viability of this technology. After perfecting and extensively testing the battery technology in Boston, Pure Lithium is now moving into the prototyping phase at its new facilities in Chicago. This advancement comes at a critical time when rising demand for energy storage driven by new technologies highlights the limitations of current battery solutions.

Bodoin's leadership extends beyond technological innovation to fostering a culture of inclusion and creativity within her organization, where unconventional ideas are encouraged and solutions are freely shared across research teams. As a female scientist and CEO in a traditionally male-dominated industry, Bodoin has become a visible advocate for women in science and innovation, using her platform to inspire other women to break barriers in technology and business leadership.