Several delaminated ITQ-6 acid samples have been synthesized and tested in the isomerization of n-hexadecane. It has been found that the swelling time is a decisive parameter to prepare ITQ-6 catalytic materials with different ratios of micro to mesoporous surface area. n-Hexadecane hydroisomerization results indicate that the appropriate control of the delamination conditions can drive to obtain optimized ITQ-6 materials highly active for the hydroisomerization/hydrocracking of long chain alkanes to produce lube oils, diesels or gasolines. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.