What medium did John Boyd Dunlop's 1879 air purifier patent primarily rely upon for cleaning action?
Answer
Water
John Boyd Dunlop's patent from 1879 represented a step forward in mechanizing air cleaning, moving beyond purely passive methods. His device utilized water as the active cleaning agent. The process involved directing the air stream through water, often described as employing a water screen. As the air passed through this watery barrier, airborne particulate matter, such as the visible soot prevalent at the time, would become entrapped in the liquid. This method established water scrubbing as an early foundational principle in air purification engineering. It is noteworthy that this approach was designed mainly for capturing larger particles, distinguishing it conceptually from modern filtration focused on sub-micron threats.

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