Glycerol was selectively converted to branched oxygenated compounds (five membered ring solketal, 5, and six membered ring acetal, 6) through a solventless acetalization process with acetone catalyzed by mesoporous 5%Ni-1%Zr/AC catalyst. The reaction was carried out under nitrogen flow conditions using 0.20 g of catalyst at 45 degrees C. The conversion of glycerol was almost complete with corresponding selectivity of 26% and 74% toward 5 and 6 components, respectively. The catalytic activity was mainly attributed to the intercalated NiO and ZrO2 species into the AC structure and to the surface characteristics as well. Zirconium species are essential co-catalysts with Ni species. The prepared catalysts were characterized for their intrinsic physicochemical and textural properties using BET surface area, XRD, XPS, TPR, FTIR, and EDX. The effect of different operational parameters such as reaction temperature, molar ratio of glycerol/acetone, catalyst weight and reaction time was investigated. The stability of the catalytic activity was examined through leaching and reusability tests. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.