The present invention relates to a method of dyeing a substrate with a
reactive dyestuff in supercritical or near supercritical carbon dioxide,
said substrate being selected from the group consisting of cellulose
fibers; modified cellulose fibers; protein fibers; synthetic fibers and
any combination thereof, wherein the method comprises dyeing said
substrate by contacting the substrate with supercritical or near
supercritical carbon dioxide containing a reactive dyestuff and one or
more acids in a concentration of at least 0.05 mol. %, calculated on the
molar amount of reactive dyestuff that is used in the dyeing method, said
reactive dyestuff being a chromophore derivative containing a
chromophoric residue and a reactive group, said reactive group comprising
a cyclic or heterocyclic aromatic residue that will be protonated under
the conditions employed during the contacting, such protonation resulting
in enhanced reactivity of the reactive dyestuff towards the plurality of
reactive groups contained in the substrate.