A potential-controlled glycerol oxidation to tartronate or mesoxalate was demonstrated on Au nanoparticle catalysts in a self-designed anion-exchange membrane electro-catalytic flow reactor. The investigation clearly shows that by tuning the anode potential from 0.35 to 0.65V, the selectivity to tartronate dropped from 79% to 26%, while that to mesoxalate increased from 0% to 57%. The tests also indicate that the elongation of reaction time will only increase the glycerol conversion, having little effects on the product distribution. The work may open a new route for the controllable oxidation of biorenewable polyols to valuable chemicals. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.