PtSn supported on SiO2 obtained via surface organometallic chemistry techniques catalyzes hydrogenolysis of glycerol to obtain bio-propylene glycol (PG). Bimetallic catalysts with Sn contents between 0.1% and 1% wt were carefully prepared by selective hydrogenolysis of Sn(n-C4H9)(4) on Pt. TEM, TPR, H-2 and CO chemisorptions, and XPS studies have shown that tin selective deposition on the metallic phase is obtained. At 200 degrees C under N-2 or H-2 pressure, the presence of tin increases drastically: both the selectivity and the activity of the glycerol conversion into PG. During 2 h batch runs; it could be observed that Pt Sn catalysts with Sn/Pt ratio = 0.2 showed the best performance (PG selectivity = 59% and 83% under N-2 and H-2 pressure respectively). The increase in activity and selectivity could be explained by the presence of Sn+n species "acid Lewis sites" which would facilitate the C-OH adsorption and its subsequent C-O cleavage favoring the propylene glycol production. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.