The selective conversion of lauric acid to glycerol monolaurin over sulfated zirconia SBA prepared under various conditions was investigated in this study. The structural properties of the prepared catalysts were characterized using different characterization techniques. Sulfated zirconia was successfully incorporated with improved properties, such as larger mesopore surface area; the mesoporous structure was preserved as well. The highest yield of 79.1 was obtained during reaction over SZSBA-15 catalyst with 16 wt. zirconium oxychloride loading and 3 h of reflux time. About 83.4 selectivity toward monolaurin was achieved at a high conversion of lauric acid (94.9), a lauric acid-to-glycerol molar ratio of 4.0, within 6 h, and at 160°C. Product distribution was successfully elucidated. High selectivity to monolaurin was influenced by molecular sieving effects. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.