Selective Green Esterification and Oxidation of Glycerol over 12-Tungstophosphoric Acid Anchored to MCM-48

12-Tungstophosphoric acid anchored to mesoporous material (MCM-48) was synthesized and characterized by thermogravimetric–differential thermal analysis, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 29 Si nuclear magnetic resonance, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. The efficacy for the esterification of glycerol with acetic acid was investigated and 50% selectivity toward diacetyl and 30% for triaceyl glycerol was obtained under mild reaction conditions. The kinetic study was carried out, and it was found that esterification of glycerol follows first-order kinetics, and the rates are not mass transfer limited. As a cleaner alternative to traditional procedures, environmentally benign oxidation of glycerol was investigated with H 2 O 2, and 40.5 and 33.6% selectivity for dihydroxyacetone and glyceraldehyde was obtained, respectively. The catalyst can be used up to four cycles without significant loss in conversion.