Indigo Carmine (C16H8N2Na2O8S2), an anionic dye. was removed from aqueous solution by solvent sublation of Indigo Carminecetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) complex (sublate) into 2-octanol. A stoichiometric amount of surfactant (surfactant:dye = 2: 1) was demonstrated to be able to remove over 93% IC from the aqueous solution in 5 min. The apparent activation energy of attachment of the sublate to bubbles was calculated as 1.3 kJ/mol. Parameters were considered. At the same time, on the base of the complete transport mechanism, a mathematical model for the dye-surfactant complexation was obtained. Furthermore, the simulation of the mathematical and experimental data was made with good results. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.