Pure zeolite NaA has been obtained, in a total processing time of I h, by exposing the reaction mixture to a microwave electromagnetic field under atmospheric pressure. The strong effect of microwave radiation has been used to progressively reduce the water content in the formulation, up to 86.9mol%, with a 30% (in weight) yield in dried product. SEM images of microwave-produced zeolite have shown peculiar morphological differences from the zeolite obtained by conventional synthesis. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.