There is a close correlation between the interfacial activity and the adsorption of the surfactant at the interface, but the detailed molecular standard information was scarce. The interfacial activity of two traditional anionic surfactants sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) and sodium oleate (OAS) were studied by experimental and computer simulation methods. With the spinning drop method and the suspension drop method, the interfacial tension of oil/aqueous surfactant systems was measured, and the influence of surfactant concentration and salinity on the interfacial tension was investigated. The dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) method was used to simulate the adsorption of SDBS and OAS at the oil/water interface. It was shown that it is beneficial to decrease interfacial tension if the hydrophobic chains of the surfactant and the oil have similar structure. The accession of inorganic salts causes surfactant molecules to form more compact and ordered arrangements and helps to decrease the interfacial tension. There is an osculation relation between interfacial density and interfacial activity. The interfacial density calculated by molecular simulation is an effective parameter to exhibit the interfacial activity. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.