Nanocrystalline MFI zeolite was synthesized with a very broad range of silica to alumina ratios using an autoclave for periods of 7 h at 473 K under autogeneous pressure without seeding gel, promoter, organic solvent or sulfuric acid. The procedure has been successfully employed for the synthesis of MFI samples using fumed silica, colloidal silica, aerosil and tetraethylorthosilicate as silica sources. The synthesized samples were characterized by different techniques such as X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy. Their average crystallite size ranges from about 26 to 55 nm and they exhibit high crystallinity. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.