A cheap and magnetic Ni/Cu/Al/Fe catalyst for the selective hydrogenation of LA into GVL catalysts was prepared by sol-gel method. The reaction pathway was systematically studied by examining the reaction conditions, such as reaction pressure, catalyst loadings, water content, and reaction temperature. Higher reaction pressure and catalyst loadings were prior to form HA, then MHV, finally GVL; ML was easily to form with a higher reaction temperature. Water, as a key role, which was in favor to form HA, then MHV, finally GVL; more important, a higher LA conversion could be obtained in methanol as the solvent with some certain content of water. And, it can give a reference for future new clean energy vehicles' application. (C) 2017 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.