Liquid-phase dehydration of 1-phenylethanol to styrene over sulfonated D-glucose catalyst

► Phenylethanol dehydration for styrene was firstly studied with a sulphonated carbon. ► Sulphonated carbon showed the highest styrene selectivity. ► Sulphonated carbon showed low activation energy in the dehydration. ► Sulphonated carbon was prepared in one-step procedure from renewable resources.