The present study deals with the modification of mordenite (HMOR) and ferrierite (HFER) zeolites by nickel. XRD, XRF, nitrogen adsorption, TPR, XANES, EXAFS were used to thoroughly characterize the materials. The metal level was set to 1 wt% for all catalysts and nickel was introduced by cationic exchange following either conventional thermal heating or in the presence of microwave radiation (HFER). The metal exchange methods employed ensured to maintain the structural integrity of the zeolites. However nickel was predominantly distributed as small NiO particles on HFER for both catalysts. The rate of both n-hexane and isobutane cracking increased when nickel was introduced under microwave radiation for HFER zeolite. Likewise, the selectivity toward ethylene and propylene was enhanced by nickel presence in n-hexane cracking reaction, while no effect on selectivity was observed in isobutane cracking. These results confirm that a new bifunctional system was obtained, since both metallic and Bronsted acid sites are acting in a synergetic manner within the zeolite catalyst. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.