Ordered mesoporous SBA-15 was used as a support for the transesterification of canola oil to produce biodiesel. The pore size and surface acidity of SBA-15 were modified by synthesis conditions using different aging temperatures and the addition of heterogeneous Al atoms. The results of the characterization study indicated that a large amount of mesopore and surface acidity can greatly improve the transesterification reaction at a high aging temperature and with the incorporation of aluminum into the SBA-15 framework. This improvement in transesterification activity is due to the formation of more stable Si-O-Al bonds on the surface of the framework. The transesterification reaction was also compared with synthesis involving traditional supports such as acidic and basic gamma-Al2O3, hydrotalcite, and SiO2. The activities of the catalysts were related to their acidic strength. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.