The synthesis of a cationic surfactant was based an diethanolainine and alkyl halides such as cetyl bromide with epichlorohydrin as a quaternizing agent. It was characterized by the elemental microanalysis of nitrogen and chloride and infrared spectroscopy. Polyester (PET) crepe fabric was pretreated with a series of solvents, including tetrachloroethane and tetrachloroethylene, at 25, 50, and 100degreesC. Untreated and solvent-pretreated PET fabric was hydrolyzed with 8 g/L NaOH at 100degreesC in the absence and presence of a cationic surfactant as a catalyst, and the weight loss was determined. The effects of solvent pretreatment on alkaline hydrolysis and PET dyeing were also examined.