MCM-56 analogues were postsynthesized via a mild acid treatment technique from hydrothermally synthesized MCM-22 lamellar precursors with Si/Al ratios of 15-45. The physicochemical properties of MCM-56 were characterized by XRD, SEM, N-2 adsorption, XPS, Si-29 and Al-27 MAS NMR, NH3-TPD and pyridine adsorption IR techniques. In comparison to MCM-22 with 3-dimensional MWW topology, the postsynthesized MCM-56 showed a broad X-ray diffraction of emerged 1 0 1 and 1 0 2 reflections and possessed a structural disorder along the layer stacking direction. Composed of partially delaminated MWW nanosheets, MCM-56 analogues had a larger external surface than MCM-22. The MCM-56 and MCM-22 catalysts were employed in the liquid-phase alkylation of benzene with ethylene. MCM-56 analogues exhibited a higher yield of ethylated benzenes and a higher catalytic stability than MCM-22, proving to serve as promising solid-acid catalysts for processing bulky molecules in petrochemical industry. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.