Research
Past research
Tony has played an integral part of the study of a wide range of research topics spanning several decades which involve the use of IR spectroscopy and has developed considerable expertise in the interpretation of IR spectra of soil inorganic and organic compounds.
His main area of research has been the application of IR spectroscopy to the characterisation of clay minerals, soil organic matter and amorphous soil mineral components, together with the investigation of surface properties of iron oxy-hydroxide and aluminium hydroxide.
The value of the use of IR spectroscopy was demonstrated by his contribution to solving the structure of imogolite, an alumino-silicate with a tubular morphology which was found in volcanic pumice deposits and in podzolic soil horizons and resulted in several publications about the chemical mechanisms involved in the podzolisation process. As a result of information from the IR spectroscopic study, imogolite was successfully synthesised at the Institute and resulted in several collaborative publications with overseas research workers.
He also made a significant contribution in the study of soil organic matter in aqueous media over a wide pH range, using IR spectroscopy to provide information on the protonation reactions of organic functional groups associated with humic molecules.
Publications
Journals
- Shaldybin, M.V.; Wilson, M.J.; Wilson, L.; Lopushnyak, Y.M.; Brydson, R.; Krupskaya, V.V.; Kondrashova, E.S.; Glotov, A.V.; Goncharov, I.V.; Samoilenko, V.V.; Arbuzov, S.I.; Bether, O.V.; Fraser, A.R.; Bowen, L.; White, D.; Dorofeeva, N.V. (2019) The nature, origin and significance of luminescent layers in the Bazhenov Shale formation of west Siberia, Russia., Marine and Petroleum Geology, 100, 358-375.
- Hillier, S.; Brydson, R.; Delbos, E.; Fraser, T.; Gray, N.; Pendlowski, H.; Phillips, I.; Robertson, J.; Wilson, I. (2016) Correlations among the mineralogical and physical properties of halloysite nanotubes (HNTs)., Clay Minerals, 51, 325-350.
- Certini, G.; Wilson, M.J.; Hillier, S.; Fraser, A.R.; Delbos, E. (2006) Mineral weathering in trachydacitic-derived soils and saprolites involving formation of embryonic halloysite and gibbsite at Monte Amiata, Central Italy., Geoderma, 133, 173-190.
- Kleja, D.B., Standring, W., Oughton, D.H., Gustafsson, J.P., Fifield, K., and Fraser, A.R. (2005) Assessment of isotopically exchangeable Al in soil materials using Al-26 tracer., Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 69, 5263-5277.
- Lumsdon, D.G. and Fraser, A.R. (2005) Infrared spectroscopic evidence supporting heterogeneous site binding modles for humics substances., Environmental Science and Technology, 39, 6624-6631.
- Bain, D.C., Tau Strand, L., Gustafsson, J.P., Melkerud, A. and Fraser, A.R. (2003) Chemistry, mineralogy and morphology of spodosols at two Swedish sites used to assess methods of counteracting acidification., Water, Air and Soil Pollution: Focus, 3, 29-47.
- Hillier, S.; Roe, M.S.; Geelhoed, J.S.; Fraser, A.R.; Farmer, J.G.; Paterson, E. (2003) Role of quantitative mineralogical analysis in the investigation of sites contaminated by chromite ore processing residue., Science of the Total Environment, 308, 195-210.
- Fraser, A.R., Wilson, M.J., Roe, M.S. and Shen, Z. (2002) Use of hydrofluoric acid dissolution for the concentration of dickite and nacrite from kaolin deposits: an FTIR study., Clay Minerals, 37, 559-570.
- Belzunce-Segarra, M.J.; Wilson, M.J.; Fraser, A.R.; Lachowski, E.; Duthie, D.M.L. (2002) Clay mineralogy of Galician coastal and oceanic sediments: contributions from terrigenous and authigenic sources., Clay Minerals, 37, 23-37.
- Chapman, S.J.; Campbell, C.D.; Fraser, A.R.; Puri, G. (2001) FTIR spectroscopy of peat in and bordering Scots pine woodland : relationship with chemical and biological properties., Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 33, 1193-1200.
- Shand, C.A.; Smith, S.; Edwards, A.C.; Fraser, A.R. (2000) Distribution of phosphorus in particulate, colloidal and molecular-sized fractions of soil solution., Water Research, 34, 1278-1284.
- Cheshire, M.V.; Dumat, C.; Fraser, A.R.; Hillier, S.J.; Staunton, S. (2000) The interaction between soil organic matter and soil clay minerals by selective removal and controlled addition of organic matter., European Journal of Soil Science, 51, 497-509.
- Karltun, E.; Bain, D.C.; Gustafsson, J.-P.; Mannerkoski, H.; Murad, E.; Wagner, U.; Fraser, A.R.; McHardy, W.J.; Starr, M. (2000) Surface reactivity of poorly-ordered minerals in podzol B horizons., Geoderma, 94, 265-288.
- Singh, B.; Wilson, M.J.; McHardy, W.J.; Fraser, A.R.; Merrington, G. (1999) Mineralogy and chemistry of ochre sediments from an acid mine drainage near a disused mine in Cornwall, UK, Clay Minerals, 34, 301-317.
- Shand, C.A., Cheshire, M.V., Bedrock, C.N., Chapman, P.J., Fraser, A.R. and Chudek, A. (1999) Solid-phase 31P NMR spectra of peat and mineral soils, humic acids and soil solution components : influence of iron and manganese., Plant and Soil, 214, 153-163.
- Dumat, C., Cheshire, M.V., Fraser, A., Shand, C. and Staunton, S. (1997) The effect of removal of soil organic matter and iron on the adsorption of radiocaesium., European Journal of Soil Science, 48, 675-683.
- Kennedy, J., Billett, M.F., Duthie, D., Fraser, A.R. and Harrison, A.F. (1996) Organic matter retention in an upland humic podzol: the effects of pH and solute type., European Journal of Soil Science, 47, 615-625
- Gustafsson, J.P.; Bhattacharya, P.; Bain, D.C.; Fraser, A.R.; McHardy, W.J. (1995) Podzolisation mechanisms and the synthesis of imogolite in northern Scandinavia, Geoderma, 66, 167-184.
- Bedrock, C.N., Cheshire, M.V., Chudek, J.A., Fraser, A.R., Goodman, B.A. and Shand, C.A. (1995) Effect of pH of precipitation of humic acid from peat and mineral soils on the distribution of phosphorus forms in humic acid and fulvic acid fractions, Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 26, 1411-1425.
- Shen, Z.Y., Wilson, M.J., Fraser, A.R. and Pearson, M.J. (1994) Nacritic clay associated with the Jiangshan-Shaoxing deep fault in Zhejiang Province, China., Clays and Clay Minerals, 42, 576-581.
- Cheshire, M.V., Russell, J.D. and Fraser, A.R. (1993) The decomposition of straw in soil: use of multiple internal reflectance infrared spectroscopy., Journal of Soil Science. 44, 693-702.
- Bain, D.C.; Fraser, A.R. (1993) An unusual interlayered clay mineral from the eluvial horizon of a humus-iron podzol., Clay Minerals, 29, 69-76.
- Cheshire, M.V., Russell, J.D., Fraser, A.R., Bracewell, J.M., Robertson, G.W., Benzing-Purdie, L.M., Ratcliffe, C.I., Ripmeester, J.A. and Goodman, B.A. (1992) Nature of soil carbohydrate and its association with soil humic substances., Journal of Soil Science, 43, 359-373.
- Vaughan, D., Russell, J.D., Cheshire, M.V. and Fraser, A.R. (1992) The use of chemical and infrared spectral analyses to verify the identification of two species of duckweed, Lemna minor L. and Lemna gibba L. grown under defined conditions., Journal of Experimental Botany, 43, 865-870.
- Ehrenberg, S.N., Aargaard, P., Wilson, M.J., Fraser, A.R. and Duthie, D.M.L. (1992) Depth dependent transformation of kaolinite to dickite in sandstones of the Norwegian Continental Shelf., Clay Minerals, 28, 325-352.
- Lumsdon, D.G., Fraser, A.R., Russell, J.D. and Livesey, N.T. (1984) New infrared band assignments for the arsenate ion adsorbed on synthetic goethite (&-FeOOH)., Journal of Soil Science, 35, 381-386
- Jones, D., Anderson, H.A., Russell, J.D., Fraser, A.R. and Onions, A.H.S. (1984) Vermiculine, a metabolic product from Talaromyces wortmanii., Transactions of the British Mycological Society, 83, 718-721.
Technical / contract reports
- Gallacher, S., Petrie, J., Fraser, A.R. and Smith, A. (2003) Investigation of unusual mouse responses to lipophilic extracts of shellfish on application of the UK interim standard operating procedure at FRS Marine Laboratory., Final Report of a Study for the Food Standards Agency, Scotland.
Conference papers
- Hillier, S.; Pendlowski, H.; Fraser, T.; Robertson, J.; Delbos, E.; Phillips, I.; Gray, N.; Wilson, I. (2013) Tubular halloysite., Minerals for Life, Appleton Tower, Edinburgh, 17-19 June 2013.
- Chapman, S.J.; Campbell, C.D.; Fraser, A.R.; Norrie, A.; Puri, G. (1999) FTIR spectroscopy of peat and its relationship with chemical and biological properties., International Peat Symposium 1999, Chemical, Physical and Biological Processes in Peat Soils, Jokioinen, Finland, August 23-27, 1999.
- Bodkin, H.; Albon, S. (1995) Preliminary observations on the mineralogy of some derived red soils from various parent materials in Zhejiang Province, China., Proceedings of the International Symposium on Integrated Exploitation and Sustainable Development in Red Soil Area.
Conference posters / abstracts
- Hillier, S.; Pendlowski, H.; Fraser, T.; Robertson, J.; Delbos, E.; Phillips, I.; Gray, N.; Wilson, I. (2015) Correlations among mineralogical and physical properties of halloysite nano-tubes (HNTs)., Euroclay 2015 Conference, Edinburgh University, 5-10 July 2015.
- Robertson, J.; Wender, R.; Shand, C.A.; Fraser, A.R. (2012) Field based soil analysis. Portable FTIR and XRF., Potatoes in Practice 2012, Balruddery Farm, Dundee.
- Fraser, A.R., Wilson, M.J., Roe, M.J. and Shen, Z. (2001) Use of hydrofluoric acid dissolution for the concentration of dickite and nacrite from kaolin deposits: an FTIR study., Mid-European Clay Conference, Stara Lesna, Slovakia, 9-14 September 2001.
- Hillier, S.J.; Fraser, A.R.; Wood, K.A. (2000) Use of full pattern fitting of infrared spectra to determine the composition of river suspended sediments., Clay Minerals Society, 37th Annual Meeting, Chicago, 24-29 June 2000.
- Staunton, S.; Damat, C.; Cheshire, M.V.; Fraser, A.R.; Hillier, S.J. (2000) Investigation of soil mineral organic matter interactions by chemical removal of organic matter followed by an infrared spectroscopic study., International Humic Substances Society, 10, Toulouse, 24-28 July 2000.
- Jones, D.; Anderson, H.A.; Norrie, A.; Fraser, A.R. (2000) Vermiculine, a fungal macrolide dilactone metabolite: a review., European Colloquium on Heterocyclic Chemistry, XIXth, Congress Centre, Aveiro, Portugal, 19-22 July 2000. p261.
- Anderson, H.A.; Norrie, A.; Fraser, A.R.; Hepburn, A.; Jones, D. (1998) A heterocyclic metabolite 7-hydroxy-4:6 dimethyl phthalide from Penicillium echinulatum., XVIII European Colloquium on Heterocyclic Chemistry, Rouen, France. Poster Abstract.
- Cheshire, M.V., Dumat, C., Fraser, A.R., Shand, C.A. and Staunton, S. (1997) L’effet de l’elimination de la matiere organique et du fer d’un sol sur l’adsorption de radiocesium., International Humic Substances Society Meeting, 2nd Meeting of the Group Francais de IHSS, Dijon, 27-28 November 1997.
- Bain, D.C.; Gustafsson, J.P.; Fraser, A.R.; McHardy, W.J. (1997) The occurrence and significance of imogolite-type materials in soils of northern Europe., 11th International Clay Conference, Ottawa, Canada, 15-21 June 1997. Abstract.
- Wilson, M.J., Oyegoke, C. and Fraser, A.R. (1997) Occurrence of trioctahedral clay mica in some Nigerian alluvial soils., 11th International Clay Conference, Ottawa, Canada, 15-21 June 1997.
- Wilson, M.J., Belzunce, M.J., Duthie, D.M.L. and Fraser, A.R. (1997) Clay mineralogy of the surface sediments of the San Simon Inlet, Ria de Vigo, Galicia., 11th International Clay Conference, Ottawa, Canada, 15-21 June 1997.
- Cheshire, M.V., Bedrock, C.N., McPhail, D.B. and Fraser, A.R. (1997) The origin of free radicals in humic acid: increase in the free radical content of straw during humification in soil., In: The Role of Humic Substances in the Ecosystems and in Environmental Protection (Eds. J. Drozd, S.S. Gonet, N. Senesi and J. Weber). IHSS – Polsih Society of Humic Substances, Grunwaldzka 53, 50-357 Wroclaw, Poland, 1997, pp309-314.
- Dumat, C., Cheshire, M.V., Fraser, A., Shand, C.A. and Staunton, S. (1996) The effect of soil organic matter on the adsorption of radiocaesium., Second International Symposium, Effect of Mineral-Organic-Microorganism Interactions on Soil and Freshwater Environments, Nancy, France, 3-6 September 1996.
- Belzunce-Segarra, M.J., Wilson, M.J., Duthie, D.M.L. and Fraser, A.R. (1996) Clay mineralogy of the surface sediments of the San Simon Inlet, Ria de Vigo, Galicia., Proceedings of 14th Conference on Clay Mineralogy and Petrology, Bauska, Stiavnica, Slovakia.
- Shand, C.A., Smith, S., Chapman, P.J., Edwards, A.C. and Fraser, A.R. (1996) The nature of phosphorus in soil pure water., Abstract for European Society of Agronomy, 4th Congress, Veldhoven-Wageningen, Netherlands, 7-11 July 1996, Volume 1, 310-311.
- Cheshire, M.V., Bedrock, C.N., McPhail, D.B. and Fraser, A.R. (1996) Increase in the free radical content of straw during humification in soil., 8th Meeting of International Humic Substances Society. The role of humic substances in the ecosystem and in environmental protection, 9-14 Sept 1996.
- Lumsdon, D.G., Fraser, A.R. and Anderson, H.A. (1995) Evaluation of HATR-FTIR for the study of humic substances in aqueous media., Conference Poster Paper Abstract: Organic Mineral interactions in soils and sediments, June 1995, University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.
- Bain, D.C.; Fraser, A.R. (1993) An unusual interlayered clay mineral from the eluvial horizon of a humus-iron podzol., 10th International Clay Conference, Adelaide, Australia, 1993.
- Cheshire, M.V., Fraser, A.R., McHardy, W.J. and McPhail, D. (1993) The decomposition of straw in soil., Insight from Foresight Conference, Rothamsted.
- Shen, Z.Y., Wilson, M.J. and Fraser, A.R. (1993) The mineralogy and origin of the kaolin clays associated with the Jiangshan-Shaoxing Fault, Zhejiang Province, China., 10th International Clay Conference, Adelaide, Australia, 1993. Abstract.