To promote catalytic performances of Ni-based mesoporous Y (meso-Y) zeolite in the hydrocracking conversion of microalgae biodiesel to jet fuel range hydrocarbons, 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane was utilized as sulfonating agent to improve the acid density of meso-Y zeolite. The physiochemical properties of sulfonated meso-Y zeolite were characterized via temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia, X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and N-2 physisorption. It was detected that sulfonic acid groups (-SO3H) composed of S-O and S=O bonds were successfully grafted onto meso-Y zeolite framework. The strong acid density significantly increased from 0.31 mmol/g to 1.21 mmol/g when meso-Y zeolite was treated with 0.38 mL/g sulfonating agent. The crystalline interplanar spacing of meso-Y zeolite expanded with a shifted position (20) of X-ray diffraction peak from 15.72 degrees to 15.70 degrees. The enhanced hydrocracking capacity of 10% Ni/sulfonated meso-Y zeolite catalyst resulted in improvements in microalgae biodiesel conversion (from 82.1% to 99.7%) and jet fuel range alkane selectivity (from 31.2% to 52.3%). (C) 2018 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.