As-synthesized and calcined MCM-49 zeolites were post-synthesized by tetraethylammonium hydroxide to tailor their morphology, texture properties, acid sites and catalytic performances. With post-synthesis by tetraethylammonium hydroxide, both as-synthesized and calcined MCM-49 zeolites have showed remarkable morphology change from rose-like shape into disorderly packed irregular MWW sheets, and improved surface areas, pore volumes and acid sites without obvious loss of crystallinity. The samples before and after tetraethylammonium hydroxide treatment were used as catalysts in liquid-phase alkylation of benzene with ethylene. Importantly, a prominent increase in ethylene conversion was observed without loss of ethylbenzene selectivity over post-synthesized MCM-49 catalysts in liquid-phase alkylation of benzene with ethylene. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.