Glycerol alkylation with tert-butyl alcohol and ketalisation of glycerol 1-mono-tert-butyl ether with acetone, as well as the combined ketalisation-alkylation process, has been studied in a fixed-bed flow reactor. It has been shown that a continuous, one-step process for the quantitative conversion of glycerol into a mixture of ethers can be accomplished under mild conditions (atmospheric pressure and temperatures of 40-70 degrees C) over a zeolite BEA catalyst. Furthermore, the effects of the glycerol ether additives on the antiwear properties of low-viscosity base oil have been characterised. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.