A series of mesoporous ZSM-5 zeolite was synthesized with ultrasonic assisted alkali-treatment technique and their catalytic activity was investigated in catalytic cracking of light naphtha. ZSM-5 zeolite was synthesized from rice husk ash without using any organic template. Effect of alkali-treatment conditions on physicochemical properties of synthesized zeolite was investigated with XRD, FESEM, TEM, N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm, NH3-TPD and TGA technique. It was found that ultrasound energy facilitates the creation of hierarchical structure of ZSM-5 during alkali-treatment. According to XRD analysis, zeolite structure was preserved after 20 min ultrasonic assisted alkaline treatment. However, prolonged dessilication time led to the destruction of MFI zeolite structure. The synthesized ZSM-5 represented highly ordered hexagonal-shape morphology. With increasing alkali-treatment time, the plough land roughness appeared on the surface of zeolite. Comparison of the textural properties samples revealed that the mesopore surface area of alkali-treated samples increased considerably with the increase of ultrasonic assisted alkali-treatment time. Results from catalytic activity tests showed that ultrasound energy has great influence on the activity of ZSM-5. The sample had the highest activity after alkali-treated for 20 min in presence of ultrasound energy which was due to their appropriate hierarchical structure. (C) 2017 The Society of Powder Technology Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. and The Society of Powder Technology Japan. All rights reserved.