Zeolite mordenite has been treated with nitric acid at different severities so as to facilitate the framework dealumination and optimization of the textural properties such as acidity and porosity. The samples obtained have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, FTIR, SEM, TEM, surface area, porosity by N-2 adsorption and ammonia TPD. The resultant samples have been evaluated towards the bulky alkylation reaction of benzylation of benzene with benzyl alcohol. The studies indicated the improvement in the textural properties such as surface area, pore volume and acidity of the samples after the acid treatment. While, the phenomenon of enhancement in properties was exhibited by all the acid treated mordenite samples, the highest improvement in properties was observed at a particular condition of acid treatment(SM-2 sample). This particular sample also exhibited highest acidity and the presence of similar to 10 nm size pores that resulted in the effective catalytic activity towards the bulky alkylation reaction of benzene with benzyl alcohol to produce high yields of di-phenyl methane. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.