v. [a. F. sulfuriser (Lavoisier, 1789): see SULPHUR sb. and -IZE.]
1. trans. To cause to combine chemically with, or to be impregnated by, sulphur; to convert into a sulphur compound.
1794. [see SULPHURIZED].
1815. Henry, Elem. Chem. (ed. 7), I. 314. Sulphurized alcohol.
1870. Eng. Mech., 4 March, 597/2. Re-agents, either oxidising or sulphurising.
1873. Hayne, in Tristram, Moab, 397. Some stumps [of palm-trees] remain not petrified, but, if I may be allowed the expression, ‘sulphurised.’
1892. Photogr. Ann., II. 173. To further sulphurise bitumen, M. Valenta dissolves 10 grammes of sulphur … in a sufficient quantity of bisulphide of carbon.
2. To treat or dress with sulphur; to vulcanize (rubber).
1846. Mech. Mag., 4 July, 2/2. Gutta percha either sulphurised or unsulphurised.
1901. Lancet, 26 Jan., 252/1. Sulphurised catgut.
3. To fumigate with burning sulphur.
1856. Morton, Cycl. Agric., I. 466/2. Sulphurizing.—The common process by which fermentation is checked … is called sulphuring or stumming.
1868. Chambers’ Encycl., X. 222/1. Sulphurising is a process which is especially applied to sweet white wines.
1883. Haldane, Workshop Rec., Ser. II. 205/2. Large commercial packages … cannot efficiently be sulphurized without … spreading out the contents. Ibid. Tightly-closed sulphurizing chambers.
Hence Sulphurized ppl. a. († sulphurized hydrogen gas = sulphuretted hydrogen), Sulphurizing vbl. sb. and ppl. a. (see quots. above); Sulphurization, the action of sulphurizing.
1794. Pearson, in Phil. Trans., LXXXIV. 395. The smell of sulphurized hydrogen gaz, (hepatic air).
1796. Kirwan, Elem. Min. (ed. 2), II. 455. These [expedients] were Torrefaction, Sulphurization.
1852. Fraser’s Mag., XLVI. 502. Finally vulcanization—i.e. sulphurization.
1883. J. Ellis, in Nat. Temp. Advocate, Sept. Preserved from fermentation … by sulphurization.
