Research has been carried out on the liquid phase dehydration of glycerol to acrolein on mesoporous amorphous aluminum phosphates obtained by a simple ammonia sal-gel method and calcined at 450 degrees C and 650 degrees C as well as on commercial zeolites with different SiO2/Al2O3 ratio and structures (H-ZSM-5 and HY). The acidity of the solids was evaluated by pyridine adsorption (TPD and DRIFT) and also by the 2-propanol reaction test. The AlPO4-650 exhibited the highest yield to acrolein 23% (3.1 mmol(ACR)/g(cat) h) at 270 degrees C and 1 bar pressure. The activity of the solids in the dehydration of glycerol to acrolein was not only affected by their acidity (nature and strength of the acid sites) but also by the volume and diameter of pore. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.