A novel method was developed for the dyeing of cotton fabric with a vinylsulfone reactive disperse dye in supercritical carbon dioxide by carrying out dye adsorption (or uptake) and a catalytic fixation reaction with a phase transfer catalyst-Triethylene diamine (TEDA) in separated baths, respectively. The results show that the dye adsorption or uptake in supercritical carbon dioxide dyeing bath significantly depended on system temperature and pressure, as well as an appropriate experiment time; significant improvements of dye fixation efficiency and color strength on wet and dry cotton fabrics after a Soxhlet extraction were achieved by employing the catalyst of TEDA under various conditions. The fastness data indicate that acceptable rub and staining fastness rated at 4-5 was obtained for the dyed cotton samples involving a catalytic fixation step, except that a fading fastness should be further improved. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.