Prof. Volker Birke has around 30 years of experience in practical environmental chemistry, particularly in the destruction of hazardous wastes and toxic compounds in the environment. He has experience in remediation of contaminated sites, hazardous waste management, soil and ground water remediation, 12 years as coordinator of the large-scale German R&D cluster RUBIN for the application of permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) to ground water (GW) pollution, 25 years in the development and application of innovative ex situ and in situ remediation technologies to persistent organic pollutants (POPs), for instance, PCBs, PAHs, PFAS in solid and liquid matter such as soils and GW, as well as pharmaceuticals, personal care products and emerging pollutants in sewage .

From 2009 to 2016, he held an extraordinary professorship of chemistry at the faculty of civil and environmental engineering, Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences, Germany.

Since 2016, he has joined the University of Wismar, Germany, where he holds a full professorship of chemistry / technical chemistry. He teaches general, physical, technical and environmental chemistry for process and environmental engineers.

Prof. Birke has experience in assessing environmental information and developing effective solutions based on regulatory, economic, technical, social, and legal considerations, furthermore in site investigation, feasibility studies, site assessment, planning and implementation of complex and large-scale remediation projects, and in the application of thermal, chemical, physical, and biological treatment methods to solve environmental issues.
Prof. Birke has participated in interdisciplinary international projects and developed new technology for developing new remedial markets. He provides peer review for government and technical publications. He has been involved in the management of about 50 remedial investigations, remedial designs and clean up of polluted sites nationwide as well as abroad (U.S.A., India, Australia).
He serves as reviewer, technical and scientific consultant and has published about 75 papers and one book focusing on innovative remediation technologies for the 21st century.

Selected publications, book chapters / book publication, and conference papers over > 20 years 

• Birke, V., Burmeier, H., and Rosenau, D. (2003) "Design, Construction and Operation of Tailored Permeable Reactive Barriers" – Pract. Periodical of Haz., Toxic, and Radioactive Mgmt., ASCE, 7(4), 264 – 280
• Birke, V., Mattik, J. and Runne, D. (2004) "Mechanochemical Reductive Dehalogenation of Hazardous Polyhalogenated Contaminants". J. Mat. Sci. 39, 5111 – 5116
• Birke, V., Burmeier, H., Niederbacher, P., Hermanns Stengele, R., Koehler, S., Wegner, M., Maier, D., Eggers, J., Maier, J., Hofmann, B., Kühlers, D., Weindl, J. and Koch, M. (2004) "PRBs in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland: Mainstreams, Lessons Learned, and New Developments At 13 Sites After Six Years". Paper 3A-14, in: A.R. Gavaskar and A.S.C. Chen (Eds.), Remediation of Chlorinated and Recalcitrant Compounds —2004. Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Remediation of Chlorinated and Recalcitrant Compounds (Monterey, CA; May 2004). ISBN 1-57477-145-0, published by Battelle Press, Columbus, OH
• Birke, V., Burmeier, H., Poggendorf, C., Schenker, F., and Exner, J.H. (2006) "Site Assessment and Accelerated Feasibility Study for Cleanup of the Former Union Carbide Pesticide Plant at Bhopal, India." in Bruce M. Sass, Remediation of Chlorinated and Recalcitrant Compounds—2006. Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Remediation of Chlorinated and Recalcitrant Compounds (Monterey, CA; May 2006). ISBN 1-57477-157-4, published by Battelle Press, Columbus, OH
• Burmeier, H., Birke, V., Ebert, M., Finkel, M., Rosenau, D., and Schad (2006) "Handbuch Anwendung von durchströmten Reinigungswänden zur Sanierung von Altlasten" ("Handbook and Guidance for the Use of Permeable Reactive Barriers for Site Remediation"). Universität Lüneburg (Hrsg.), 471 pages (plus appendices). Download available at www.rubin- online.de/ (in German)
• Birke, V., Runne, D., Mattik, J., Berger, A., Schuett, Ch., Aresta, M. and Dibenedetto, A. (2004) "Emerging Innovative and Versatile Mechanochemical Techniques for Remediation of Hazardous Wastes and Contaminated Sites". In: A.R. Gavaskar and A.S.C. Chen (Eds.), Remediation of Chlorinated and Recalcitrant Compounds —2004. Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Remediation of Chlorinated and Recalcitrant Compounds (Monterey, CA; May 2004). ISBN 1-57477-145-0, published by Battelle Press, Columbus, OH
• Birke, V., Mattik, J., Runne, D., Benning, H. and Zlatovic, D. (2006) "Dechlorination of Recalcitrant Polychlorinated Contaminants Using Ball Milling". In: Ecological Risks Associated with the Destruction of Chemical Weapons, Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop (ARW) on Ecological Risks Associated with the Destruction of Chemical Weapons, Lüneburg, Germany, Series: NATO Security through Science Series, Eds. V.M. Kolodkin and W. Ruck, Springer, ISBN: 1-4020-3136-X, 111-127
• Birke, V., Schütt, C. and Ruck, W.K.L. (2009) "Small Particle Size Magnesium in One-pot Grignard-Zerewitinoff-like Reactions Under Mechanochemical Conditions: On the Kinetics of Reductive Dechlorination of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)". In: Environmental Applications of Nanoscale and Microscale Reactive Metal Particles. Eds: Cherie L. Geiger, Kathleen M. Carvalho-Knighton, Volume 1027, Publication Date (Web): December 20, 2009, American Chemical Society, ISBN13: 9780841269927 eISBN: 9780841224674, 39 – 54
• Birke, V.; Schütt, C.; Burmeier, H.; Ruck, W.K.L. (2011) "Defined Mechanochemical Reductive Dechlorination of 1,3,5-Trichlorobenzene at Room Temperature in a Ball Mill". Fresenius Environmental Bulletin, 20, 2794-2805
• Birke, V. and Burmeier, H. (2012a) "Anwendung von durchströmten Reinigungswänden zur Sanierung von Altlasten – Ergänzungsband zum Handbuch", 144 Seiten ("Handbook of Permeable Reactive Barriers for Groundwater Cleanup – Supplemental Volume", 144 pp.), http://www.ptka.kit.edu/downloads/ptka-wte-w/Handbuch_Reinigungswaende-RUBIN_Ergaenzungsband_2012.pdf
• Birke, V. and Burmeier, H. (2012b) "Anwendung von durchströmten Reinigungswänden zur Sanierung von Altlasten –Ergänzungsband zum Handbuch" ("Permeable Reactive Barriers for Ground Water Remediation in Germany – Major results of Investigations of the Large Scale R&D Program RUBIN During its Second Term (2006-2012)"), Altlastenspektrum, 249 – 261
• Naidu, R., Bekele, D.N., and Birke, V. (2014) "Permeable Reactive Barriers: Cost-Effective and Sustainable Remediation of Groundwater", 1 – 24, in: Naidu, R., and Birke, V. (2014). "Permeable Reactive Barrier: Sustainable Groundwater Remediation", CRC Press, Boca Raton, U.S.A., 333 p., ISBN 9781482224474
• Birke, V., Schütt, Ch., Burmeier, H., and Friedrich, H.-J. (2014) "Impact of Trace Elements and Impurities in Technical Zero-Valent Iron Brands on Reductive Dechlorination of Chlorinated Ethenes in Groundwater", 87 – 98, in: Naidu, R., and Birke, V. (2014). "Permeable Reactive Barrier: Sustainable Groundwater Remediation", CRC Press, Boca Raton, U.S.A., 333 p., ISBN 9781482224474
• Birke, V., and Burmeier, H. (2014) "Permeable Reactive Barriers in Europe", 275 – 320, in: Naidu, R., and Birke, V. (2014). "Permeable Reactive Barrier: Sustainable Groundwater Remediation", CRC Press, Boca Raton, U.S.A., 333 p., ISBN 9781482224474
• Simon, F.G., Robertson, D., Schütt, C., and Birke, V. (2016) "Zero Valent Metal (ZVI) Nanoparticles in Geotextiles and Geomembranes", in: Zekkos, D., Farid, A., De, A., Reddy, K.R. and Yesiller, N. (eds.), "Geo-Chicago 2016: Sustainability and Resiliency in Geotechnical Engineering", Geotechnical Special Publication GSP, Vol. 269, pp. 498 – 507, Reston, VA, USA: American Society of Civil Engineers. dx.doi.org/10.1061/9780784480120.051
• Singh, R., Chakma, S., Birke, V. (2019). "Simulation study for the application of permeable reactive barrier for aquifer remediation in the proximity of Indian landfill site". 21^st EGU General Assembly, EGU 2019, Proceedings from the conference held 7 – 12 April 2019 in Vienna, Austria.
• Birke V., Singh, R., Chakma, S., Vigelahn L., Schutt C., Burmeier, H. (2019). "Assessment and selection of various technical grades zero valent irons (ZVIs) for remediation of chlorinated ethenes for validating efficacy of the Rheine site permeable reactive barrier (PRB), Germany". International CleanUp Conference, CRC Care Adelaide, Australia, 8 – 12 September 2019.
• Singh, R., Chakma, S., Birke, V. (2020). "Numerical modelling and performance evaluation of multi- permeable reactive barrier system for aquifer remediation susceptible to chloride contamination". Groundwater for Sustainable Development, 10, 100317.
• Singh, R., Chakma, S., Birke, V. (2020). "Long-Term Performance Evaluation of Permeable Reactive Barrier for Groundwater Remediation Using Visual MODFLOW". In: Singh R.M., Shukla P., Singh P. (eds) Environmental Processes and Management. Water Science and Technology Library, vol 91, pp. 311 – 320, Springer, Cham, Switzerland.
• Mittal, A., Singh, R., Chakma, S., Goel, G., Birke, V. (2021). "An integrated permeable reactive barrier and photobioreactor approach for simultaneous removal of nitrate, phosphate, and hexavalent chromium: a combined batch and continuous flow study". Bioresource Technology, 333, 125201.
• Singh, R., Mittal, A., Chakma, S., Birke, V. (2021). "Three-Dimensional Numerical Modelling for Simultaneous Removal of Multi Contaminants from Permeable Reactive Barrier (PRB): A Long-Term In-situ Aquifer Remediation Study". AGU21 Fall Meeting, New Orleans, LA USA. American Geophysical Union, 13 – 17 December.
• Singh, R., Chakma, S., Birke, V. (2021). "Performance Evaluation of Three Different Design Configurations of Permeable Reactive Barrier Model for In-situ Groundwater Remediation". 18^th Annual Meeting, AOGS 2021 Virtual, Proceedings from the conference held 1 – 6 August 2021.
• Guleria, A., Singh, R., Chakma, S., Birke, V. (2022). "Ecological and human health risk assessment of chromite ore processing residue (COPR) dumpsites in Northern India: A multi–pathways based probabilistic risk approach." Process Safety and Environmental Control, 163, p. 405 – 421.
• Srivastava, A.N., Singh, R., Chakma, S., Birke, V. (2022). "Advancements in Operations of Bioreactor Landfills for Enhanced Biodegradation of Municipal Solid Waste". In: Pathak, P., Palani, S.G. (eds) Circular Economy in Municipal Solid Waste Landfilling: Biomining & Leachate Treatment. Radionuclides and Heavy Metals in the Environment, pp. 153 – 166 Springer, Cham, Switzerland.
• Birke V., Prang, O., Singh, R. (2022). "Degradation of Pharmaceuticals and Other Emerging Pollutants Employing Bi-Metal Catalysts in Aqueous Solution". International CleanUp Conference, CRC Care Adelaide, Australia, 11 – 15 September 2022.
• Birke V., Singh, R., Vigelahn, L., Bläsing, K., Imai, T., Toda, T., Suzuki, K. (2022). "Efficacy of Modified Reductive Nano Iron Powders (RNIPs) for PFAS And Cr(VI) Reduction from Aqueous Solution". International CleanUp Conference, CRC Care Adelaide, Australia, 11 – 15 September 2022.
• Singh, R., Chakma, S., Birke, V. (2023). "Performance of field-scale permeable reactive barriers: An overview on potentials and possible implications for in-situ groundwater remediation applications." Science of The Total Environment, 858, Part 1, 158838.
• Birke, V., Singh, R., Prang, O., Vigelahn L., Bläsing K. (2023). "Synergistic Removal of Pharmaceuticals and Emerging Contaminants from Aqueous Solutions: an Investigation of Bi-Metal Catalysts, Magnesium, and Green Hydrogen as Efficient Degradation Agents". 18^thInternational Conference on Chemistry and the Environment –– ICCE, Venice, Italy, June 2023.
• Birke, V., Singh, R., Prang, O. (2024). "Degradation of pharmaceuticals and other emerging pollutants employing bi-metal catalysts / magnesium and / or (green) hydrogen in aqueous solution". Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 31, p. 35992 – 36012.
• Singh, R., Vigelahn, L., Schütt C., Burmeier, H., Chakma, S., Birke, V. (2024). "Defining quality assurance guidance for effective selection of zero-valent iron production batch for groundwater remediation using permeable reactive barrier". Journal of Environmental Management. (Under Review)