Process for obtaining ethylene from ethanol

A process for obtaining ethylene from anhydrous or aqueous ethanol by means of a catalyst of the crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite type of natural or synthetic origin, in which at least one catalyst of the crystalline zeolite type is used, said catalyst having, on the one hand, channels or pores formed by cycles or rings of oxygen atoms having 8 and/or 10 elements or members and, on the other hand, an atomic Si/Al ratio of less than about 20, this catalyst being used under such temperature conditions that it has a carbon selectivity for ethylene of about 100% by weight and has a rate of conversion of about 100% of ethanol into ethylene.