▪ I. reforming, vbl. n.
(rɪˈfɔːmɪŋ)
[f. reform v.1]
1. The action of the vb. in various senses.
| a 1400 Hylton Scala Perf. ii. iv, He delaiede þe ful reformynge of mannys soule vnto þe laste ende. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 81 b, For the debating of controversies, and refourming of vices. 1598 Stow Surv. 134 He gaue towardes the reforming of that church fiue hundred markes. a 1660 Hammond Serm. (1851) ii. 540 A reforming of every thing which was either formally or indirectly contained in their ignorance. 1743–4 Mrs. Delany Autobiog. & Corr. (1861) II. 283, I wish you had the reforming of the family you are in. 1752 J. Louthian Form of Process (ed. 2) p. iii, I have been prevailed upon..to undertake the reforming of the former Edition. |
2. Also re-forming. The treatment of hydrocarbons so as to produce changes in composition; spec. (i) increasing the octane number of petrol by heating it under pressure over a catalyst (the major effects being an increase in the proportions of aromatic and other unsaturated cyclic compounds, and loss of hydrogen); (ii) partially or completely converting gaseous hydrocarbons to carbon monoxide and hydrogen by heating with steam over a catalyst.
Not all the early reforming processes used a catalyst.
| 1924 Proc. 31st Ann. Convention Pacific Coast Gas Assoc. 724 The ‘reforming’ or ‘cracking’ of natural gas is a process of much interest to several of the Southern California gas utilities. 1932 Jrnl. Inst. Petroleum Technologists XVIII. 262 In the cracking or ‘re-forming’ of gasoline, one company uses a De Florez furnace, heating the gasoline to 925° F. at about 1000 lb. pressure, obtaining a recovery of 86 to 88 per cent. of gasoline of high octane number from a straight-run paraffin type gasoline. 1941 Oil & Gas Jrnl. 27 Mar. 87/1 A catalytic process for the ‘reforming’ or converting of low-octane to high-octane gasolines at high temperatures in the presence of hydrogen gas. 1966 Kirk-Othmer Encycl. Chem. Technol. (ed. 2) X. 417 A basic problem in catalytic steam reforming and cracking is that the pyrolysis reactions..compete with the steam-hydrocarbon reactions. 1971 Sci. Amer. Dec. 57/2 During the 1950's new platinum-alumina-halogen catalysts were introduced to carry out the catalytic reforming of low-octane oil fractions. 1974 Ibid. Oct. 68/2 In the U.S. methane is the customary commercial source of hydrogen. In the process called re-forming it is treated with high-temperature steam, producing carbon monoxide (CO) and molecular hydrogen. |
▪ II. reforming, ppl. a.
(rɪˈfɔːmɪŋ)
[f. as prec. + -ing2.]
That reforms.
| 1641 Milton Ch. Govt. i. vi. Wks. 1851 III. 124 The expected reforming grace that God hath bid us hope for. 1692 E. Walker tr. Epictetus' Mor. xvi, 'Tis better he were hanged, than thou should'st share A moment's Grief by thy reforming Care. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. i. I. 64 Elizabeth..put herself at the head of the reforming party. 1878 Seeley Stein II. 166 We must retrace our steps, and examine his reforming legislation. |
Hence reˈformingly adv. rare—1.
| 1649 Roberts Clavis Bibl. 346 It would better have become Iob to have submitted himselfe reformingly and humbly to his hand. |