The absorption spectrum of Sudan Red III (SR) in aqueous solution and a series of aqueous alcohol solutions containing sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) surfactant was determined by UV-Vis spectrophotometry. After establishing appropriate association models to analyze the experimental data, the association constants K-m of SR and SDS in various solutions were determined. All association constants in aqueous alcohol solutions were greater than those in water. The aqueous ethanol solution had the largest association constant, indicating that addition of a small amount of alcohol enhanced the association between SR and SDS. Association thermodynamics function. Delta(r) G(m) values were also calculated from the association constants.