The absorbance of crystal violet (CV) in a series of aqueous solutions and a series of sodium bis(2-ethyl- hexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT)/isooctane/water microemulsions has been determined. Association models have been used to analyse the experimental data to obtain the association constants of CV and AOT in the above two media. It was found that about up to 57% CV was associated by AOT in AOT/ isooctane/water microemulsions, which reduced the reaction rate of alkaline fading of crystal violet in the microemulsions.