The alkaline fading of crystal violet (CV) is accelerated by using a w/o microemulsion of H2 O/AOT/ethane under supercritical conditions. The rate of fading can be changed by three orders of magnitude with the molar ratio of water to AOT and operating pressure. The highest rate of CV fading observed is larger by a factor of 100 or more compared to those reported so far in the literature. The structure of AOT molecules and the type of interior water molecules seem to account for the rate enhancement with an increase in the water/AOT molar ratio. It is suggested that the intermicellar and AOT-ethane interactions are of significance for the promotion effect of pressure.