The catalytic cracking of n-heptane was carried out using HZSM-12 zeolite (Si/Al = 40). The materials obtained were characterized by X-ray diffraction (DRX), BET surface area and atomic absorption (AA). The catalytic tests were accomplished at 350, 400 and 450 C in a fixed bed continuous flow reactor coupled on-line to a gas chromatograph. The results showed that HZSM-12 was active in n-heptane catalytic cracking with the production of hydrocarbons in the range of C1 to C6 and an activation energy of 95.5 kJ mol(-1).