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.
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.