A zeolite catalyst is prepared by treating a zeolite with a phosphorus compound to form a phosphorus-treated zeolite. The phosphorus-treated zeolite is heated to a temperature of about 300° C. or higher and combined with an inorganic oxide binder material to form a zeolite-binder mixture. The zeolite-binder mixture is heated to a temperature of about 400° C. or higher to form a bound zeolite catalyst. The bound zeolite may exhibit at least two 31P MAS NMR peaks with maxima at from about 0 to about −55 ppm, with at least one peak having a maximum at from about −40 to about −50 ppm. Zeolites containing 10-oxygen ring pores that have been prepared in such a way may be used in aromatic alkylation by contacting the bound zeolite catalyst with an aromatic alkylation feed of an aromatic compound and an alkylating agent under reaction conditions suitable for aromatic alkylation.