Due to the growing interest in using mesoporous materials as catalytic support, this paper presents the synthesis and characterization of mesoporous silica (SBA-15) prepared under different synthesis conditions. Variables studied were acidity of the synthesis duration, synthesis sol, aging duration, and washing solvent. The influence of these parameters on the textural properties and morphology of the mesoporous silica is reported. Increasing the sol acidity changed the shape of the particles from cylindrical (fiber) to spherical. © (2014) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland.