A polymer impregnated sulfonated carbon composite solid acid (P–C–SO₃H) catalyst was synthesized via sulfonation of a composite material formed through incomplete carbonization of hydrolyzed glucose supported on a polymer matrix (co-polymer of styrene and chloromethylstyrene i.e. Merrifield's peptide resin) and used for the alkylation of phenol using methyl-tert-butyl ether (MTBE) as an alkylating agent in a pressure reactor under autogenous pressure. The developed catalyst exhibited excellent catalytic activity and provided para-tert-butyl phenol (PTBP) exclusively with the added benefits of facile recovery and reusability for several runs without loss of catalytic activity.