Different solids consisting in hydrous zirconia were synthesized by the water in oil microemulsion technique (ME series). For comparative purposes, diverse solids were also obtained by the conventional sol-gel method (Pseries). The solids were tested for liquid-phase selective hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol, using propan-2-ol as the hydrogen donor (Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley process). The best results corresponded to catalysts calcined at 200 degrees C which consisted in amorphous solids with surface areas of ca 200 m(2)/g. The presence of some surfactant remaining from the synthetic process in solids obtained through the microemulsion technique favored selectivity to furfuryl alcohol with values >= 98%. Results were explained by the steric hindrance of furfural by the surfactant molecules in micelles thus favoring the interaction of the substrate with hydroxyl groups in hydrous zirconia through the C=O group. Application of microwave irradiation accelerated the reaction (15-30 times) as compared to conventional heating.