MFI zeolite was granulated into spheres of 3 +/- 0.5 mm in diameter using basic hydrotalcite (HT) as a binder, which was prepared by calcination at 670 K for a few seconds, so called flash calcined HT. The flash calcined HT was found to be effective for the formation of high strength MFI zeolite granules without a significant change of acidity, referred from the measurement of temperature programmed desorption of ammonia and mechanical crushing strength. The results of the 1-butene isomerization and MTO reaction using the obtained MFI zeolite granule containing up to 20 wt.% flash calcined powder as a binder suggested that the catalytic activity of the MFI zeolite was not altered significantly due to the incorporation of the flash calcined HT as a binder, because it was considered to have neutral to basic surface nature. This work demonstrates the formation of high mechanical strength MFI zeolite granules, free from deterioration of catalytic activity. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.