Metal oxides nanoparticles dispersed on SBA-15 were synthesized by functionalization of metalloporphyrins onto modified SBA-15, for confining the growth of Ru, Cu, Zn or Co oxides nanocrystals. The composites were evaluated in the dehydration of glycerol at 250 degrees C and 1 atm. Among the solids studied, best results were achieved for RuSBA-15 and CoSBA-15 due to the resistance shown by nanoparticles to sintering. On the other hand, ZnSBA-15 and CuSBA-15, which possessed a lesser basic strength, led to parallel reaction instead of the dehydration of glycerol, by forming heavy compounds; this resulted in the catalysts deactivation by coking. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.