Carbon-based acid catalysts with porous structure were prepared by sulfonation of carbonized sucrose. The catalysts have an amorphous porous structure with a good acid capacity and high thermal stability. The catalytic activity was evaluated by the esterification of glycerol with acetic acid. The sulfonated carbon catalysts showed that glycerol was completely transformed into a mixture of glycerol esters including a high selectivity of about 50% to triacetylglycerol (TAG). (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.