In the present work, amorphous niobium oxides with 5% (w/w) vanadium or molybdenum isomorphically substituted into the material structure were synthesized. The materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM). and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results show that vanadium and molybdenum were incorporated into the niobium oxide structure with concomitant changes in the morphologic and catalytic properties. Catalytic studies on the conversion of residual glycerin generated during biodiesel production in the presence of H2O2 showed enhanced efficiency of ether formation with the vanadium-containing material. The NbV/ethanol/glycerin/250 degrees C system was found to convert 80% of glycerin. Experiment-planning studies in conjunction with the analysis of the surface response via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) aided in the determination of the optimal conditions. The catalytic tests monitored by GC-MS showed the formation a mixture of ethers obtained by the condensation of glycerol. Furthermore, it was observed that the modification of the catalyst directs the formation of larger molecules such as ketone mainly in the catalyst containing vanadium. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.