Lamellar zeolite forms like layered MCM-22 precursor, MCM-22P, offer unprecedented opportunities for creating diversity of more open zeolite structures prepared post-synthesis by expanding and modifying the interlamellar space. This is a relatively unexplored area with regard to procedures ensuring easy, least destructive and most efficient expansion of layered zeolites. Herein we explore concentrated surfactant solutions with high pH for their ability to provide swollen MCM-22 that can be converted to the pillared MCM-36. High pH of the swelling solutions was obtained by addition of tetrapropylammonium hydroxide and by partial conversion of the surfactant chloride into hydroxide by ion exchange. The products were evaluated based on their X-ray diffraction characteristics, sorption properties, scanning electron microscopy and IR spectra as indicators of catalytic potential. The swelling/pillaring efficiency was judged based on BET surface area and depended on swelling conditions, especially the apparent basicity. There was an overall decrease in acid site concentration due to incorporation of inert silica pillars. The MCM-36 zeolite with the highest BET showed increased uptake of 2,6-di-tert-butyl-pyridine by 75% compared to the parent MCM-22 suggesting enhanced accessibility of acid sites for bulky probe molecules. We conclude that concentrated surfactant solutions can be effective in swelling MCM-22P even at room temperature but an optimal approach must balance many factors including yield and activity of the final product. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.