Homogenously dispersed copper on layered solid base (Cu-0.4/Mg5.6Al2O8.6-CP, with 80.1% dispersion of copper) was synthesized via thermal decomposition of the as-synthesized Cu0.4Mg5.6Al2(OH)(16)CO3 layered double hydroxides. This bi-functional highly dispersed Cu-solid base catalyst is extremely effective for hydrogenolysis of aqueous glycerol. The detected conversion of glycerol reached 80.0% with a 98.2% selectivity of 1,2-propanediol at 180 degrees C, 3.0 MPa H-2 and 20 h. But copper dispersed poorly in those catalysts prepared via impregnation and ion-exchange, and their activities were lower. These precursors and catalysts were characterized by N-2-adsorption, X-ray diffraction, scanning electronic microscope, transmission electronic microscope, thermo-gravimetry, temperature-programmed reduction with H-2, in-situ XRD, dissociative N2O adsorption and CO2 temperature-programmed desorption. It was confirmed that the as-synthesized Cu0.4Mg5.6Al2(OH)(16)CO3 showed a well crystallized layer-structure of hydrotalcite and copper dispersed homogenously on the layer-structure of hydrotalcite after thermal decomposition and H-2 reduction. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.