Investigation of antibiotic surface activity by tracking hydrodynamic of a rising bubble.

[Display omitted] • Surface tension of Amoxicillin and Ampicillin are investigated by pendant drop method. • Surface activity of Amoxicillin and Ampicillin are investigated by rising bubble method. • The local velocity profiles and shape deformation of rising air bubble are reported. • Rising bubble method is very sensitive to the surface activity. Improving the performance of many industries as well as traditional and modern processes necessitates knowledge of interfacial phenomena. Nowadays, due to the widespread use of antibiotics, it is crucial to improve their function, optimize their synthesis process and explore their removal method from aquatic environment. For the first time, the adsorption kinetic of Amoxicillin and Ampicillin is measured by pendant drop and their surface activity is investigated by rising bubble method. From adsorption kinetics, it is obvious that Ampicillin is surface active at air–water interface. While Ampicillin shows a drastic surface activity even at 500 ppm, i.e. surface pressure around 2.5 mN/m. From local velocity profiles of single rising air bubble, defiantly the Amoxicillin is not surface active. It is concluded from both results, that presence of Ampicillin and Amoxicillin in water will change the molecular structure in the bulk and at the interface. As expected, the sensitivity of the rising bubble method to the impurity compared to others like pendant drop method is undeniable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]