Hydrogen regeneration of coke-selectivated crystalline aluminosilicate catalyst

A process for catalytically converting lower monohydric alcohols and corresponding ethers by contacting the same, under catalytic conditions, with a catalyst comprising a crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite characterized by a silica to alumina mole ratio of at least about 12 and a constraint index within the approximate range of 1 to 12, which catalyst has undergone controlled precoking by contact with a thermally decomposable organic compound at a temperature in excess of the decomposition temperature of said compound but less than about 1200.degree. F. at a hydrogen to organic compound mole ratio of between 0 and 1 to deposit at least about 1 weight percent of coke thereon and using the thus precoked catalyst in conversion of said lower monohydric alcohols and corresponding ethers to a hydrocarbon product rich in olefins under conditions of lesser severity which include at least one variable of a lower temperature or a higher hydrogen concentration than employed during the aforesaid precoking with consequent deposition of carbonaceous deposit and loss in conversion activity of said catalyst and thereafter effecting regeneration of the aged catalyst by exposure to an atmosphere comprising hydrogen at a temperature between about 800.degree. F. and about 1200.degree. F. and a pressure between about 0 and about 2000 psig for a period of time sufficient to substantially restore the activity of the catalyst.