The super-microporous microcrystalline MgO-ZrO2 nanomaterials (pore size 1-2 nm) was prepared successfully via a facile one-pot evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) method and employed in the transesterification of soybean oil and methanol. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscope, temperature programmed desorption of CO2, and N-2 adsorption porosimetry were employed to characterize the nanocomposites. Nitrogen sorption isotherms revealed that these materials had large surface areas of more than 200 m(2)/g. Moreover, the sample with a Mg/Zr molar ratio of 0.5 and calcined at 400 degrees C showed high biodiesel yield (around 99% at 150 degrees C). (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.