Novel　triazolium-based　ionic　liquids　(ILs)　have　been　designed　and　synthesized　for　the　transesterification　of　palm　oil　with　methanol　to　produce　biodiesel.　It　is　found　that　triazolium-based　ILs　herein　possessed　better　thermal　stability　and　higher　catalytic　activity　than　the　common　imidazolium-based　ILs.　The　investigation　of　reaction　condition　is　conducted　for　the　optimization　of　the　biodiesel　production.　The　yield　of　biodiesel　can　therefore　reach　up　to　99.75%　under　optimal　reaction　conditions.　The　reaction　kinetic　study　indicated　that　pseudo　first-order　reaction　kinetic　model　is　available　for　the　reaction　system　herein,　and　the　activation　energy　(Ea)　is　86.48　kJ·mol−　1usingthe　optimal　catalyst.　©　2017　Elsevier　B.V.